Acromioclavicular joint sprains: the post-injury recovery interval.

Acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) sprains occur after injuries to the shoulder girdle. Current practice is to treat such injuries conservatively. This study determines the recovery interval of ACJ sprains treated conservatively. Forty-seven patients with grades I or II ACJ sprains were evaluated in a shoulder clinic and treated conservatively. The average age was 37 years, with the injury being caused by a fall, contact sport or road-traffic accident. At an interval of 12 months or greater these patients were assessed by means of a questionnaire. Six months post-injury, pain was described as significant by 14 (40%) patients, decreasing to 5 patients (14%) at final follow-up. A restricted range of movement was reported by seven patients (20%) 6 months post-injury. There is a positive correlation between patients symptomatic at 6 months and those whose symptoms persist beyond 1 year (r=0.6, 95% CI=0.28-0.76, P<0.01). Three patients (9%) found that symptoms affected their ability to perform activities of daily living and two patients (6%) had to change sporting activities. Patients may continue to experience adverse symptoms beyond 6 months and should be advised accordingly on appropriate treatment should symptoms persist.