Objective To explore the short-term and medium-term efficacy of modified loop plate suspension fixation in the treatment of acromioclavicular joint dislocation.

Methods A retrospective analysis was performed in 72 patients with acromioclavicular joint dislocation and treated in Yangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from December 2020 to December 2022. The patients were divided into modified group (n=37) and traditional group (n=35) according to different surgical methods. The modified group was treated with modified loop plate suspension fixation, and the traditional group was treated with clavicular hook plate fixation. The perioperative indexes, Constant-Murley score, and shoulder joint mobility and pain visual analogue scale (VAS) score before operation, 3 months and 6 months after operation, postoperative complications rates, excellent and good rate of shoulder joint function recovery at 6 months after operation were compared between the two groups.

Results The incision length and recovery time in the modified group were significantly shorter than those in the traditional group (P < 0.001), and the intraoperative blood loss was significantly less than that in the traditional group (P < 0.001). The Constant-Murley score, shoulder flexion and abduction activity in both groups at 3 months and 6 months after operation were significantly higher than before operation (P < 0.05), and these improvements were greater in the modified group (P < 0.05). The VAS scores of the two groups at 3 months and 6 months after operation were significantly lower than before operation (P < 0.05), and these decreases were greater in the improved group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the excellent and good rate of shoulder joint function recovery and the incidence of postoperative complications between the two groups.

Conclusions The modified titanium loop plate suspension fixation in the treatment of acromioclavicular joint dislocation can reduce surgical trauma and postoperative pain, and promote the recovery of shoulder joint function.