Your acromioclavicular joint, commonly referred to as the AC joint, is located at the tip of the shoulder where your shoulder blade (scapula) meets your collarbone (clavicle). These two bones are held together and stabilized by ligaments. The acromioclavicular ligaments form a protective capsule over the joint, while the coracoclavicular ligaments stabilize the joint by holding the clavicle in place by attaching to a bony projections on the surface of your shoulder blade called the coracoid process. Cartilage in the joint between these two bones helps to ensure fluid movement between the clavicle and scapula.
However, like any joint in the body, the AC joint is susceptible to degeneration, and when this occurs, arthritis can set in. In fact, AC joint arthritis is actually a more common issue than arthritis of the shoulder’s larger ball and socket joint, the glenohumeral joint. In today’s blog, we want to explore what can lead to cartilage degeneration in the AC joint, what symptoms it presents with and how the condition can be effectively treated.
Causes And Symptoms Of AC Joint Arthritis
Similar to other joints in the body, wear and tear on the AC joint is the most common cause of osteoarthritis development. That’s not to say that you should avoid using or stressing your shoulders, because movement and action helps to keep the joint strong, but over time all this stress can take a toll on your shoulders. This strain can be amplified if you’re an athlete who regularly performs overhand motions, your line of work has you regularly lifting above your head, or you perform repetitive arm tasks that stress the shoulder area. AC joint arthritis can also be caused or exacerbated by direct trauma to the area, like what you may experience during a sports collision, when falling from a height or during a car accident. This high-energy trauma can damage the cartilage and limit its ability to adequately cushion the bones in the area.
Because gradual wear and tear on the joint is the most common cause of AC joint arthritis, the condition tends to be most common in patients over the age of 50. Some of the most common symptoms AC joint arthritis presents with include:
- Shoulder pain
- Shoulder stiffness
- Limited range of motion
- Swelling
- An audible snapping or clicking sound with movement
If you’re dealing with any of these symptoms, even if your shoulder is not yet painful, it’s a good idea to connect with your primary physician or a shoulder specialist. You can’t reverse arthritic degeneration with treatment, but you can decrease symptoms and prevent continued progression, which ensures you can keep performing normal shoulder activities.
Diagnosing And Treating AC Joint Arthritis
Confirmation of AC joint arthritis can typically be made after a short visit with a medical professional. During the visit, your doctor will review your medical history, ask you about your symptoms and conduct a physical examination of the shoulder joint. During this assessment, they may manipulate your shoulder or ask you to perform some simple movements to see how the area responds to different stress patterns. This may be all they need to determine that AC joint arthritis is the underlying issue, but they may wish to confirm their suspicions and get a clearer indication of the internal degeneration with the help of an imaging test like an X-ray.
Following this confirmation, your doctor will walk you through a standard treatment protocol. While your specific course of care will be tailored to your individual needs, most patients pursue a combination of the following techniques to reduce symptoms, restore function and prevent progression of AC joint arthritis:
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Short-term rest/Specific activity avoidance
- Physical therapy
- Cold/Heat therapy
- Corticosteroid injections
The vast majority of patients can manage their condition with the help of these conservative treatments, but for the small set of patients who do not find relief or who have severely debilitating arthritis, a minimally invasive procedure can work wonders. During the procedure, the surgeon removes a portion of your clavicle, in turn reducing contact between the clavicle and scapula. The success rate of the operation is less than surgeries to address arthritis in other joints, so many shoulder specialists will push strongly for conservative measures and only proceed with an operation in rare circumstances. Dr. Holloway can go over your options and work with you to determine the best route of care for your AC joint arthritis.
For more information about AC joint arthritis, or for assistance managing a different shoulder issue, reach out to Dr. Holloway and his team today at (865) 410-7887.
