SHOULDER Treatment and evolution of grade III acromioclavicular dislocations in soccer players Ernesto Pereira-Graterol • Pedro A ´ lvarez-Dı ´az • Roberto Seijas • Oscar Ares • Xavier Cusco ´ • Ramo ´n Cugat Received: 16 January 2012 / Accepted: 17 August 2012 / Published online: 29 August 2012 Ó Springer-Verlag 2012 Abstract Purpose To evaluate postoperative functional results in soccer players diagnosed with acute grade III acromiocla- vicular dislocation, stabilized with clavicular hook plate. Methods Between 2006 and 2010, 11 soccer players were diagnosed with acute acromioclavicular dislocation. Mean age was 22.9 years. The clavicular hook plate was used for stabilization. The follow-up was 4 years (2–6 years). Results Constant score showed 82 % excellent results and 18 % good functional results. Average pain measured with VAS was 1.8 (±0.59) mm out of 10. We did not report any complication within the process. Conclusions Use of the clavicular hook plate is considered adequate for the treatment of acute acromioclavicular dislo- cation in soccer players, allowing a quick return to sports. Level of evidence Retrospective case series, Level IV. Keywords AC dislocation Á AC dislocation in athletes Á Clavicular hook plates Á Soccer players Introduction Acromioclavicular (AC) joint dislocations are graded according to the extent of displacement of the clavicle related to the acromion. The most common classification is the Allman [1] and Tossy et al. [19] classification with Rockwood’s modification [15], adding three grades to the previous three. In grade III AC dislocations, both AC and coracoclavicular ligaments are disrupted and there is a complete loss of contact between clavicle and acromion. In general, grade III AC dislocations are considered for sur- gical treatment [9, 17], although some authors propose conservative treatment [7]. The clavicular hook plates have shown to be effective for fixation in this type of AC dis- locations [5, 6]. Athletes in their second and third decade of life are more commonly affected [14], with a high incidence in young athletes (43.5 %). Direct trauma is the mechanism of most AC joint injuries [13]. It is characterized by superior displacement of the distal end of the clavicle, due to indirect force of the arm in extension, which transmits the load to the acromion through the humeral head, causing the rupture of the AC and coracoclavicular ligaments, with loss of vertical and horizontal stability, respectively. There are many techniques used in the treatment of this injury, but none have shown satisfactory results in athletes [11, 13]. The purpose of this manuscript is to determine the effectiveness of clavicular hook plate (Synthes, Bern, Switzerland) in the stabilization of grade III AC dislocation in professional soccer players (Tegner 9–10), and its role in the early return to sports activities. Materials and methods Between 2006 and 2010, 74 patients were treated at the Mutualitat Catalana de Futbolistes of Federacio ´n Espan ˜ola E. Pereira-Graterol Á P. A ´ lvarez-Dı ´az Á R. Cugat Mutualidad Catalana de Futbolistas de la Federacio ´n Espan ˜ola de Fu ´tbol, Barcelona, Spain P. A ´ lvarez-Dı ´az Á R. Seijas (&) Á O. Ares Á X. Cusco ´ Á R. Cugat Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Fundacio ´n Garcı ´a Cugat Hospital Quiro ´n Barcelona, Pza Alfonso Comı ´n 5-7 Planta-1 Hospital Quiron, 08023 Barcelona, Spain e-mail: roberto6jas@gmail.com 123 Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc (2013) 21:1633–1635 DOI 10.1007/s00167-012-2186-0