OBJECTIVES: Functional results of patients who were operated on for symptomatic meso os acromiale were retrospectively evaluated. METHODS: The study included six patients (5 females, 1 male; mean age 58.5 years; range 51 to 64 years) who underwent surgical treatment for symptomatic os acromiale following unsuccessful conservative treatment. Internal fixation and bone grafting were performed in all the patients. Evaluations were based on physical assessment, radiographic examination, and the UCLA (University of California at Los Angeles) score. All the patients had symptoms of subacromial impingement accompanied by various degrees of rotator cuff tears. Symptomatic os acromiale was diagnosed by imaging studies and tenderness over the acromion during palpation. In case of suspected stability of the acromion, arthroscopy was performed. Fixation was performed with cannulated screws (n=4) or K-wires (n=2) and a cerclage wire or nonabsorbable sutures. Bone graft was harvested locally. The mean follow-up period was 29 months (range 18 to 35 months). RESULTS: The mean UCLA score increased from a preoperative 11.8 to postoperative 28.2. Union was achieved in four patients in whom cannulated screws were used. Two patients who were fixed with K-wires remained ununited. CONCLUSION: It is possible to obtain satisfactory results with cannulated screws which probably enable a more rigid fixation in symptomatic os acromiale. Arthroscopic evaluation may be helpful in deciding whether or not os acromiale is symptomatic.
OBJECTIVES: Functional results of patients who were operated on for symptomatic meso os acromiale were retrospectively evaluated. METHODS: The study included six patients (5 females, 1 male; mean age 58.5 years; range 51 to 64 years) who underwent surgical treatment for symptomatic os acromiale following unsuccessful conservative treatment. Internal fixation and bone grafting were performed in all the patients. Evaluations were based on physical assessment, radiographic examination, and the UCLA (University of California at Los Angeles) score. All the patients had symptoms of subacromial impingement accompanied by various degrees of rotator cuff tears. Symptomatic os acromiale was diagnosed by imaging studies and tenderness over the acromion during palpation. In case of suspected stability of the acromion, arthroscopy was performed. Fixation was performed with cannulated screws (n=4) or K-wires (n=2) and a cerclage wire or nonabsorbable sutures. Bone graft was harvested locally. The mean follow-up period was 29 months (range 18 to 35 months). RESULTS: The mean UCLA score increased from a preoperative 11.8 to postoperative 28.2. Union was achieved in four patients in whom cannulated screws were used. Two patients who were fixed with K-wires remained ununited. CONCLUSION: It is possible to obtain satisfactory results with cannulated screws which probably enable a more rigid fixation in symptomatic os acromiale. Arthroscopic evaluation may be helpful in deciding whether or not os acromiale is symptomatic.