AC Joint Injuries
Overview
The shoulder is one of your body’s most important joints. It enables you to lift your arms and perform simple yet often overlooked actions like carrying objects.
Unfortunately, the amount of pressure placed on the shoulder coupled with repeated use often increases its risk of developing damage. As a result, AC (acromioclavicular) joint injuries can arise.
Anatomy
Several bones meet inside the shoulder. The joint, sometimes abbreviated as the AC joint, connects your collarbone and shoulder blade bone, known in scientific terms as the clavicle and scapula.

Description
The most common unwanted events impacting the AC joint includes fractures, separations, and arthritis.
Fractures are bone breaks involving the collarbone and shoulder blade.
Separations occur when ligaments (soft tissues bonding your shoulder blade and collarbone) become damaged or torn.
Arthritis occurs when cartilage (the strong, protective material covering bones) gradually becomes damaged or fades. This event heightens the exposed bone’s risk for injury, and several unpleasant symptoms often result.
Causes of AC Joint Injuries
AC joint injuries can be caused by traumatic events like falls, automobile collisions, and excessive contact received playing sports such as football or wrestling.
Certain injuries can develop and gradually worsen. Cartilage and soft tissue damage often result from age.
Chronic overuse can also be to blame. For example, if you work in a profession or take part in a sport requiring continual heavy shoulder movement, your chances increase. Construction workers, weightlifters, and baseball pitchers are good examples.
Risk Factors
Falls bring about a significant number of AC joint injuries. Your risk increases if you participate in the following activities since falls frequently occur in each of these sports.
- Snow skiing.
- Water skiing.
- Figure skating.
- Mountain climbing.

Symptoms of AC Joint Injuries
Specific symptoms and how severe they are depend on the particular type of injury you sustain. Damaged joints might produce any of the following common symptoms:
- Discomfort, especially on the top of your shoulder.
- Pain that worsens when you move your shoulder.
- The formation of a bump atop your shoulder.
- Redness.
- Swelling.

Fractures or separations can also limit your shoulder’s range of motion. In the most serious cases, you may not be able to move or lift your shoulder at all.
Complications
If you suspect that your shoulder’s AC joint was injured, you are strongly urged to visit your doctor as soon as possible. Failure to quickly diagnose and treat such associated problems can lead to permanent mobility issues and an increased risk for arthritis and fractures.
In certain instances, your shoulder can become deformed. This could impact how you appear, walk, and limit your ability to perform even the most basic functions.
Diagnosis
Your doctor will begin a medical evaluation by asking you several questions including what you do for a living and your leisure activities. AC joint injuries are often closely tied to such factors. This information can help your doctor rule out other illnesses or injuries.
In some cases, AC joint injuries can be seen through a simple visual examination of your shoulder. They are typically confirmed using diagnostic imaging devices, like X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs), or computerized tomography (CT scans).
Treatment Overview
Treatment will largely depend on the specific problem causing your pain and the severity of that problem.
Separation and fractures are usually placed into categories of severity. Less severe events will need less aggressive treatment and usually will not need surgery. For more severe injuries, you may need surgery.
Non-Surgical Options
Lower-grade AC joint separations and bone fractures, in addition to mild to moderate cases of arthritis, are usually treated by stopping or limiting activities and using a first-aid technique abbreviated RICE, or rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
Rest takes the pressure off the joint. Applying ice to the affected shoulder often brings swelling down. Compressing the injured structure with a cast, sling, or thick bandaging protects the joint and prevents it from moving. Elevating your shoulder increases blood flow, which speeds up the healing process.
Additionally, over-the-counter or prescription pain medications can relieve discomfort.
Surgical Procedures
Major separations and fractures may need surgery.
Severe ligament tears will either be repaired or removed and replaced. Completely torn ligaments are often replaced using grafts – soft tissues found in a different part of your body or donated from another individual.
Moderate to severe collarbone or shoulder blade fractures may need to be repaired or repositioned. To complete these procedures, a surgeon may need to place a piece of metal or other material into your bones to help ensure they stay in place long enough for them to heal correctly.
The pain associated with AC joint arthritis can be eased by removing a part of your collarbone. Typically, this operation is a minimally invasive procedure performed arthroscopically.
Treatment, especially following surgical intervention, is likely to include a course of physical therapy. As it is also known, PT is a fitness regimen designed to help your shoulder regain its strength and motion.
The Recovery Process
If identified and properly addressed, you should recover from an AC joint injury. But it is difficult to pinpoint an exact timeframe. Everyone heals at a different rate, and several important considerations must be made, including:
- Your age.
- Your general health.
- The specific condition causing the joint injury.
- The underlying condition’s severity.
Another critical factor is your lifestyle. If you are a competitive athlete, you might choose to undergo more aggressive treatment geared towards restoring your shoulder to compete again at a high level as quickly as possible.
Next Steps
If you have any type of AC joint injury, have the fellowship trained physicians at Florida Orthopaedic Institute address your treatment and recovery needs. Our world-renowned shoulder specialists are well-versed in all aspects of AC joint treatment and can determine the best possible therapy for you.
Contact your Florida Orthopaedic Institute physician to learn more about AC Joint Injuries.
Areas of Focus
- Shoulder
- AC Joint Injuries
- Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair
- Atraumatic Shoulder Instability
- Bankart Repair
- Bicep Tendon Tear
- Bicep Tenodesis
- Bioinductive Implant
- Broken Collarbone
- Bursitis of the Shoulder (Subacromial Bursitis)
- Calcific Tendinitis of the Shoulder
- Clavicle Fractures
- Dislocated Shoulder
- Fractures Of The Shoulder Blade (Scapula)
- Glenoid Labrum Tear
- Impingement Syndrome of the Shoulder
- Little League Shoulder
- Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) of the Shoulder
- Rotator Cuff Tears
- Shoulder Arthritis
- Shoulder Arthroscopy
- Shoulder Injury: Pain In The Overhead Athlete
- Shoulder Replacement
- Shoulder Separations
- Shoulder Socket Fracture (Glenoid Fracture)
- SLAP Tears & Repairs
- Subacromial Decompression
- Trapezius Strain (Muscle Strain of The Upper Back)
- Traumatic Shoulder Instability
The following Florida Orthopaedic Institute physicians specialize in AC Joint Injuries:
Specialties
- AC Joint Injuries
- Achilles Tendinitis - Achilles Insertional Calcific Tendinopathy (ACIT)
- Achilles Tendon Rupture
- Achilles Tendonitis
- ACL Injuries
- Ankle Fracture Surgery
- Ankle Fractures (Broken Ankle)
- Ankle Fusion Surgery
- Anterior Cervical Corpectomy & Discectomy
- Arthritis & Adult Reconstruction Surgery
- Arthroscopic Articular Cartilage Repair
- Arthroscopic Chondroplasty
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- Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair
- Arthroscopy Of the Ankle
- Articular Cartilage Restoration
- Artificial Disk Replacement (ADR)
- Aspiration of the Olecranon Bursa
- Atraumatic Shoulder Instability
- Avascular Necrosis (Osteonecrosis)
- Bankart Repair
- Basal Joint Surgery
- Bicep Tendon Tear
- Bicep Tenodesis
- Bioinductive Implant
- Bone Cement Injection
- Bone Growth Stimulation
- Bone Health Clinic
- Broken Collarbone
- Bunions
- Bursitis of the Shoulder (Subacromial Bursitis)
- Calcific Tendinitis of the Shoulder
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Charcot Joint
- Chiropractic
- Clavicle Fractures
- Colles’ Fractures (Broken Wrist)
- Common Foot Fractures in Athletes
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- De Quervain's Tenosynovitis
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- Finger Dislocation
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- Foot Stress Fractures
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- Fractures Of The Shoulder Blade (Scapula)
- Fractures Of The Tibial Spine
- Functional Nerve Transfers of The Hand
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- Heat Injury/Heat Prostration
- High Ankle Sprain (Syndesmosis Ligament Injury)
- Hip & Thigh
- Hip Arthroscopy
- Hip Dislocation
- Hip Flexor Strains
- Hip Fractures
- Hip Hemiarthroplasty
- Hip Impingement Labral Tears
- Hip Muscle Strains
- Hip Pointers and Trochanteric Bursitis
- Hyperextension Injury of the Elbow
- Iliopsoas Tenotomy
- Iliotibial Band Syndrome
- Impingement Syndrome of the Shoulder
- Interlaminar Implants
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- Kyphosis
- Labral Tears Of The Hip (Acetabular Labrum Tears)
- Laminectomy: Decompression Surgery
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- Lisfranc Injuries
- Little League Shoulder
- LITTLE LEAGUER'S ELBOW (MEDIAL APOPHYSITIS)
- Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection
- Lumbar Interbody Fusion (IBF)
- MACI
- Mallet, Hammer & Claw Toes
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- Meniscus Tears
- Metatarsalgia
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Morton’s Neuroma
- Muscle Spasms
- Nerve Pain
- Neuromas (Foot)
- Neurosurgery
- Olecranon Stress Fractures
- Orthopaedic Total Wellness
- Orthopedic Physician Or A Podiatrist?
- Orthopedic Trauma
- Osteoarthritis of the Hip
- Osteoporosis
- Outpatient Spine Surgery
- Partial Knee Replacement
- Patellar Fracture
- Pelvic Ring Fractures
- Peripheral Nerve Surgery (Hand) Revision
- Pinched Nerve
- Piriformis Syndrome
- Piriformis Syndrome
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Podiatry
- Primary Care Sports Medicine
- Quadriceps Tendon Tear
- Radial Tunnel Syndrome (Entrapment of the Radial Nerve)
- Revascularization of the Hand
- Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) of the Shoulder
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Of The Hand
- Robotics
- Rotator Cuff Tears
- Runner's Knee
- Sacroiliac Joint Pain
- Sciatica
- Scoliosis
- Senior Strong
- Shin Splints
- Shoulder
- Shoulder Arthritis
- Shoulder Arthroscopy
- Shoulder Injury: Pain In The Overhead Athlete
- Shoulder Replacement
- Shoulder Separations
- Shoulder Socket Fracture (Glenoid Fracture)
- SLAP Tears & Repairs
- Spinal Fusion
- Spine
- Spondylolisthesis and Spondylolysis
- Sports Foot Injuries
- Sports Hernias (Athletic Pubalgia)
- Sports Medicine
- Sports Wrist and Hand Injuries
- Sprained Ankle
- Sprained Wrist Symptoms and Treatment
- Subacromial Decompression
- Sudden (Acute) Finger, Hand & Wrist Injuries
- Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR)
- Tendon Transfers of The Hand
- Tennis Elbow
- Thigh Fractures
- Thigh Muscle Strains
- Thumb Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injuries
- Total Ankle Replacement
- Total Hip Arthroplasty
- Total Hip Replacement - Anterior Approach
- Total Knee Replacement Surgery
- Trapezius Strain (Muscle Strain of The Upper Back)
- Traumatic Shoulder Instability
- Triceps Tendonitis
- Trigger Finger
- Turf Toe
- UCL (Ulnar Collateral Ligament) Injuries
- Ulnar Neuritis
- Valgus Extension Overload
- Vertebroplasty
- WALANT (Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet)
- Whiplash and Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD)
- Wound Care
- Wrist Arthroscopy
- Wrist Fractures
- Wrist Tendonitis
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