Surgical outcomes of arthroscopic lateral clavicle excision for osteolysis

Abstract Background Lateral clavicle osteolysis has been attributed to repetitive stress; particularly in activities requiring excessive overhead motions such as weightlifting or rugby. Arthroscopic lateral clavicle excision is recommended for symptomatic acromioclavicular joint that has failed conservative treatment. Aim The present study aims to assess patient-reported outcomes of arthroscopic lateral clavicle excision for osteolysis. Methods Sixteen patients with a mean age of 33.56 ± 12.2 (range 18–59) underwent lateral clavicle excision over a 24 month period, by one senior shoulder surgeon. All patients participated in sport and professional athletes accounted for 56% of the patient cohort. Constant (CS) and QuickDASH (QD) outcome scores were obtained by questionnaire at a mean 21 months following surgery (range 3–40). Results A significant improvement in CS (p  Conclusions Acromioclavicular joint excision for lateral clavicle osteolysis is associated with significant improvements in post-operative shoulder outcome scores, while providing adequate pain relief and improving the range of motion of the affected shoulder. Level of Evidence: IV Case Series