I recently fell on the point of my shoulder and have been told I sprained my AC Joint. What is the best treatment and when is surgery indicated?
When a joint is first sprained, conservative treatment is certainly the best. Applying ice directly to the point of the shoulder is helpful to inhibit swelling and relieve pain. The arm can be supported with a sling which also relieves some of the weight from the shoulder. Gentle motion of the arm can be allowed to prevent stiffness, and early physiotherapy is often of benefit. Occasionally a steroid injection to AC joint may speed recovery if the injury is slow to settle. Most AC Joint injuries settle within 6 months, but a small proportion of patients continue to experience pain. This is usually because the small cartilage in the AC joint may have been torn and not healed. At this stage surgery is an option – in the form of an arthroscopic AC joint excision.
