Evaluation of the coracoid bone tunnel placement on Dog Bone™ button fixation for acromioclavicular joint dislocation: a cadaver study combined with finite element analysis

Background: Dog Bone™ button fixation is frequently used to treat acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) dislocation. However, various studies have reported complications after fixation.

Objective: To investigate the effect of the coracoid bone tunnel location on the treatment of ACJ dislocation through single-tunnel coracoclavicular (CC) ligament fixation with the Dog Bone™ button.

Methods: Six cadaveric shoulders were used. Each specimen was subjected to five testing conditions in the following order: (1) normal ACJ (Gn); (2) acromioclavicular and CC ligaments were removed (G0); (3) CC ligament reconstruction was performed using the Dog Bone™ technique, and the coracoid bone tunnel was at the center of the coracoid base (G1); (4) reconstruction was performed at 5 mm distal from the G1 site, along the axis of the coracoid (G2); (5) reconstruction was performed at 10 mm distal from the G1 site, along the axis of the coracoid (G3). The angles of pronation and supination of the clavicle under the same load (30 N) were measured. Next, a finite element (FE) model was created using computed tomography (CT) images of the normal shoulder. Model 1 (M1), model 2 (M2), and model 3 (M3) correspond to G1, G2, and G3, respectively. A force of 70 N was applied as a vertical upward load to the distal clavicle. Subsequently, the von Mises stress, the strain LE along the FiberWire, and the displacement nephogram of the three models were obtained.

Results: After single-tunnel CC ligament fixation using the Dog Bone™ technique, the clavicle in the G2 group (20.50 (19.50, 21.25) °, 20.00 (18.75, 21.25) °) had the best rotational stability. The peak von Mises stress, the strain LE along the FiberWire, and the maximum displacement were smaller in M2 than in M1 and M3.

Conclusions: When the coracoid bone tunnel was located 5 mm anterior to the center of the coracoid base (along the axis of the coracoid), the clavicle showed greater rotational stability.