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  • UPMC >
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  • Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine >
  • Conditions We Treat >
  • Shoulder Separation
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Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine
About Us
Conditions We Treat
Achilles Tendonitis
ACL Injuries
AC Joint Injury (Shoulder Separation)
Ankle Sprain
Avascular Necrosis
Bicep Tendonitis
Bone Cancer
Bone Cysts
Bone Spurs
Bone Tumor
Brachial Plexus Injuries
Bulging Discs
Bunions
Burners & Stingers
Bursitis
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Chondrosarcoma
Chordoma
Chronic Tendon Pain
Clavicle Fracture
Colles Fracture
Concussion
Contractures
Degenerative Joint Disease
Diabetic Foot Disease
Dislocations
Dupuytren's Contracture
Elbow Sprain
Ewings Sarcoma
Femoroacetabular Impingement
Finger Injuries
Flat Feet
Foot Pain
Foot Ulcer
Fractures & Breaks
Frozen Shoulder
Giant Cell Tumor
Golfers Elbow
Hammer Toes
Hip Dysplasia
Hip Pointer
Instability
IT Band Syndrome
Jones Fracture
Labral Tear
Lisfranc Injury
Low Back Pain
Lower Body Pain
Malunion & Nonunion
MCL & LCL Injuries
Meniscus Tear
Metastatic Bone Disease
Morton's Neuroma
Neck Pain
Necrotizing Fasciitis
Nerve Compression
Numbness & Weakness
Osgood Schlatter
Osteosarcoma
Patellar Tendonitis
Patellofemoral Pain
Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Injury
Plantar Fasciitis
PVNS
Rotator Cuff Tears
Scaphoid (Wrist) Fracture
Severs Disease
Shin Splints
Shoulder Dislocation
Shoulder Impingement
Shoulder Pain
Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Sports Hernia
Sprains & Strains
Tendon & Ligament Injuries
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Tennis Elbow
Trochanteric Bursitis
Turf Toe
Upper Body Pain
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Acromioclavicular (AC) Joint Injury (Shoulder Separation)

Shoulder separation, also known as an acromioclavicular (AC) joint injury, can cause serious discomfort.

If you think you have a separated shoulder, you should see a doctor. They can evaluate the severity of your separation and come up with a treatment plan. Treatment often includes a combination of rest, medication, and sometimes physical therapy.

Looking for AC Joint Injury Care?

Related services include:

  • Orthopaedics.
  • Sports Medicine.
  • Rehabilitation

Find a Provider

On this page

  • What Are the Causes of AC Joint Injury?
  • What Are the Symptoms of AC Joint Injury?
  • How Do You Diagnose AC Joint Injury)
  • How Do You Treat AC Joint Injury

What Is an Acromioclavicular (AC) Joint Injury?

The acromioclavicular (AC) joint — along with ligaments — connects your collarbone and shoulder blade.

An injury to to the AC joint is a shoulder separation.

What are the types of AC joint separations?

The type of shoulder separation depends on how much you tear the AC joint or coracoclavicular (CC) ligaments that hold the joint in place.

  • Type I: the AC ligament is slightly torn, but there's no damage to the CC ligament is unharmed.
  • Type II: the AC ligament is completely torn, and there's little or no tear to the CC ligament.
  • Type III: both the AC and CC ligaments are completely torn. In this case, the collarbone separates from the end of the shoulder blade.

Three more types of AC joint injury are also possible, but rare. These involve tearing of the ligaments and surrounding muscle tissue.

What causes shoulder separation or AC joint injuries?

Shoulder separation often happens because of a hit to:

  • The tip of your shoulder.
  • The top part of your shoulder.
  • Your outstretched arm.

You may damage the AC joint or rotator cuff from a fall or tackle during a game.

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Acromioclavicular (AC) Joint Injury Symptoms and Diagnosis

What are the signs and symptoms of AC joint injury?

A shoulder separation may cause symptoms such as:

  • Pain.
  • Limited motion in the shoulder.
  • Swelling.
  • Bruising.
  • Tenderness at the top of the shoulder.

You may also be able to see that the collarbone is out of place or notice a bump on the shoulder.

How do you diagnose a shoulder separation or an AC joint injury?

Your doctor will perform an exam to look for symptoms of shoulder separation.

He or she will look at:

  • Blood flow.
  • Muscle strength.
  • Signs of a broken shoulder or damage to the rotator cuff.

Your doctor will likely take an x-ray of the shoulder to see the severity of the damage and make sure you haven't fractured your collarbone.

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How Do You Treat a Separated Shoulder?

The main goals of treatment for an AC joint injury or shoulder separation are to manage pain and allow the torn ligaments to heal.

Type I or II AC joint injury treatment

Treatments for type I and II injuries include:

  • Icing the shoulder.
  • Putting your arm in a sling to decrease motion.
  • Taking NSAIDs, like ibuprofen or naproxen, to help with pain.

You will need to wear the sling for a few days to a week or more depending on how severe the injury.

You will need to begin physical therapy as soon as you can and do minimal exercise with your arm to avoid frozen shoulder.

Type III AC joint injury treatment

Your doctor will decide the best course of treatment, based on the extent of damage to the joint.

You may have to wear a sling and undergo physical therapy.

In some cases, your doctor may suggest surgery to repair the torn ligaments.

Return to Play program

You may be a candidate for the Return to Play program if you are an athlete who has been treated for a sports injury, completed physical therapy, and is looking for additional support to help you safely and confidently reengage with your sport.

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