title: Acromioclavicular osteoarthritis: a common cause of shoulder pain.
abstract: Osteoarthritis of the acromioclavicular joint is a frequent cause of shoulder pain and can result in significant debilitation. It is the most common disorder of the acromioclavicular joint and may arise from a number of pathologic processes, including primary (degenerative), posttraumatic, inflammatory, and septic arthritis. Patients often present with nonspecific complaints of pain located in the neck, shoulder, and/or arm, further complicating the clinical picture. A thorough understanding of the pertinent anatomy, disease process, patient history, and physical examination is crucial to making the correct diagnosis and formulating a treatment plan. Initial nonoperative management is aimed at relieving pain and restoring function. Typical treatments include anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, and injections. Patients who continue to exhibit symptoms after appropriate nonsurgical treatment may be candidates for operative resection of the distal clavicle through either open or arthroscopic techniques.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Vanderbilt Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, the Blue Ridge Bone and Joint Clinic, Mission Sports Medicine, Asheville, North Carolina, Department of Orthopedics and Sports, Harbin Clinic LLC, Rome, Georgia, and the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, Vanderbilt Bone and Joint, Franklin, Tennessee.
authors.forename: Travis J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Menge
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Vanderbilt Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, the Blue Ridge Bone and Joint Clinic, Mission Sports Medicine, Asheville, North Carolina, Department of Orthopedics and Sports, Harbin Clinic LLC, Rome, Georgia, and the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, Vanderbilt Bone and Joint, Franklin, Tennessee.
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Boykin
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Vanderbilt Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, the Blue Ridge Bone and Joint Clinic, Mission Sports Medicine, Asheville, North Carolina, Department of Orthopedics and Sports, Harbin Clinic LLC, Rome, Georgia, and the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, Vanderbilt Bone and Joint, Franklin, Tennessee.
authors.forename: Brandon D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Bushnell
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Vanderbilt Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, the Blue Ridge Bone and Joint Clinic, Mission Sports Medicine, Asheville, North Carolina, Department of Orthopedics and Sports, Harbin Clinic LLC, Rome, Georgia, and the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, Vanderbilt Bone and Joint, Franklin, Tennessee.
authors.forename: Ian R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Byram
mesh_terms: D000173:Acromioclavicular Joint / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001182:Arthroscopy; D002968:Clavicle / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D010808:Physical Examination; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents