Weaver-Dunn procedure
Encyclopedia
This is a generally successful type of surgery
involved in the treatment of severe separated shoulder
s developed by James K. Weaver, M.D., Albuquerque, NM , and Harold K. Dunn, M.D., Salt Lake City, UT in the early 1970s.
The procedure is done to essentially replace the coracoclavicular ligament
s with the coracoacromial ligament
.
There is currently no "gold standard" surgery to repair acromioclavicular separations, and many surgeries have been created. However, this is one of the more common fixes.
The original surgery is described as follows.
Modern variations of the procedure may use additional fixation methods to better stabilize the distal clavicle end as the original construction is rather weak compared to the unharmed shoulder. Even with these modifications, the modern surgeries do not match intact coracoclavicular ligament
strength in cadaveric testing. However, such testing does not account for what the living body may perform in the process of healing, in terms of joint remodeling, etc.
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
involved in the treatment of severe separated shoulder
Separated shoulder
A separated shoulder , is a common injury to the acromioclavicular joint. This is not the same as a shoulder dislocation as that involves a dislocation of the glenohumeral joint...
s developed by James K. Weaver, M.D., Albuquerque, NM , and Harold K. Dunn, M.D., Salt Lake City, UT in the early 1970s.
The procedure is done to essentially replace the coracoclavicular ligament
Coracoclavicular ligament
The Coracoclavicular Ligament serves to connect the clavicle with the coracoid process of the scapula.It does not properly belong the acromioclavicular joint articulation, but is usually described with it, since it forms a most efficient means of retaining the clavicle in contact with the acromion...
s with the coracoacromial ligament
Coracoacromial ligament
The Coracoacromial Ligament is a strong triangular band, extending between the coracoid process and the acromion.It is attached, by its apex, to the summit of the acromion just in front of the articular surface for the clavicle; and by its broad base to the whole length of the lateral border of the...
.
There is currently no "gold standard" surgery to repair acromioclavicular separations, and many surgeries have been created. However, this is one of the more common fixes.
The original surgery is described as follows.
- Resection of the distal 2 cm of distal clavicleClavicleIn human anatomy, the clavicle or collar bone is a long bone of short length that serves as a strut between the scapula and the sternum. It is the only long bone in body that lies horizontally...
- Detaching the acromial end of the coracoacromial ligamentCoracoacromial ligamentThe Coracoacromial Ligament is a strong triangular band, extending between the coracoid process and the acromion.It is attached, by its apex, to the summit of the acromion just in front of the articular surface for the clavicle; and by its broad base to the whole length of the lateral border of the...
, and possibly shortening it. - Attaching the remaining ligament to the remaining clavicle with sutures.
Modern variations of the procedure may use additional fixation methods to better stabilize the distal clavicle end as the original construction is rather weak compared to the unharmed shoulder. Even with these modifications, the modern surgeries do not match intact coracoclavicular ligament
Coracoclavicular ligament
The Coracoclavicular Ligament serves to connect the clavicle with the coracoid process of the scapula.It does not properly belong the acromioclavicular joint articulation, but is usually described with it, since it forms a most efficient means of retaining the clavicle in contact with the acromion...
strength in cadaveric testing. However, such testing does not account for what the living body may perform in the process of healing, in terms of joint remodeling, etc.