title: Arthroscopically assisted internal fixation of the symptomatic unstable os acromiale with absorbable screws.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Symptomatic meso- type os acromiale is a common pathology with inconsistent outcomes of treatment with various surgical techniques. We report the outcome of a new technique for arthroscopic fusion of symptomatic os acromiale with absorbable screws.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 8 shoulders in 8 patients with symptomatic meso- type os acromiale who were treated with the use of a new technique for arthroscopic fusion with absorbable screws. The mean age was 54 years (range, 38-67 years), and the mean time from onset of symptoms to surgery was 18 months (range, 9-25 months). No patients reported a specific traumatic event before the onset of symptoms, and all noted the insidious onset of pain with no precipitating event.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average length of follow-up was 22 months (range, 12-36 month). The average Constant score improved from 49 points (range, 35-57 points) to 81 points (range, 75-86 points). The average satisfaction score improved from 4.5 of 10 (range, 2-6) to 8.5 of 10 (range 7-9). All patients made a good clinical recovery at 3 to 6 months after surgery. At the last follow-up, full radiographic union was observed in 6 patients, partial union in 1 patient, and persistent radiologic nonunion in 1 patient. Anterior bulging of the absorbable screws was noted in 2 patients, and the screws were trimmed 6 months after the first procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have found that this new arthroscopic technique of fixation of os acromiale with absorbable screws provides promising clinical, cosmetic, and radiologic results with high patient satisfaction.
authors.affiliation: Reading Shoulder Unit, Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, UK.
authors.forename: Ehud
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Atoun
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van Tongel
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Narvani
authors.forename: Ehud
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rath
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sforza
authors.forename: Ofer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Levy
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000174:Acromion / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D001863:Bone Screws; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000601:surgery*