Treatment Outcomes of Anterior Sternoclavicular Joint Dislocation using An Acromioclavicular Joint Hook Plate Versus a Locking Plate: A Retrospective Study.

Abstract

Background: We aimed to compare the efficacy and functional outcomes of using an acromioclavicular joint hook plate (AJHP) versus a locking plate (LP) in the treatment of anterior sternoclavicular joint dislocation.Methods: Seventeen patients with anterior sternoclavicular joint dislocation were retrospectively analyzed from May 2014 to September 2019. Six patients were surgically treated with an AJHP, and 11 were surgically treated with an LP. Five male and one female patients comprised the AJHP group, and nine male and two female patients comprised the LP group. The mean age of all patients was 49.5 years.Results: Reduction and fixation were performed with AJHP or LP in all 17 patients. All patients were followed up for a mean duration of 14.4 months. There were no reported complications, wound infections, or instances of plate or screw breakage. The mean operative blood loss, operative time, and length of incision in the AJHP group were significantly better than those in the LP group. Shoulder girdle movement of the AJHP group was significantly better than that of the LP group.Conclusions: This study revealed that AJHP facilitated glenohumeral joint motion, reduced the risk of rupture of mediastinal structures, required a shorter incision, and had less blood loss and a shorter duration of operation compared with LP. However, some deficiencies require further improvement.Trial registration: