• S H Gallay, T M Hupel, D E Beaton, E H Schemitsch, and M D McKee.
• Upper Extremity Reconstructive Service, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
• J Orthop Trauma. 1998 Mar 1; 12 (3): 159-63.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the functional outcome of displaced acromioclavicular (AC) injuries in polytrauma patients.DesignA matched, case-control study using a prospectively gathered trauma database.MethodsTwelve polytrauma patients with a concomitant displaced acromioclavicular joint injury were matched to polytrauma patients without an acromioclavicular joint injury and to patients with an isolated displaced acromioclavicular joint injury. They were evaluated with a series of five shoulder questionnaires and the SF-36 general health status questionnaire.ResultsShoulder function in polytrauma/acromioclavicular joint injured patients was consistently worse than in control patients with an isolated acromioclavicular joint injury. In addition, the presence of an acromioclavicular joint injury in a polytrauma patient had a negative effect on several components of the SF-36.ConclusionsA displaced acromioclavicular joint injury in a polytrauma patient has a greater effect on shoulder function than isolated acromioclavicular joint injuries when evaluated by both disease-specific and general health outcomes. Standard treatment methods may be inadequate for this group of patients.

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