Acromioclavicular Joint

Where is the acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) ?

The acromioclavicular joint (also abbreviated to the ACJ) is the joint at the top of the shoulder lying between the outer end of the collar bone (clavicle) and the upper portion of the shoulder blade (acromion). The ACJ and sternoclavicular joints (SCJ) are key links between the arm and central skeleton. The ACJ is reinforced by strong ligaments (the coracoclavicluar ligaments) that run from part of the shoulder blade (known as the coracoid) to the collar bone.

What type of conditions affect the ACJ ?

The ACJ can be damaged by trauma, infection (rarely), inflammatory and degenerative disease.

In many cases of degenerative disease there may be a background of previous trauma or a heavy manual occupation.

What symptoms arise from the ACJ?

Symptoms from the acromioclavicular include pain and instability of the joint. Pain from the ACJ is commonly located on the point of the shoulder.