Os acromiale: evaluation and treatment

Youm, Thomas; Hommen, Jan Pieter; Ong, Bernard C; Chen, Andrew L; Shin, Catherine

2005 Jun;34(6):277-83, American journal of orthopedics (Belle Mead, NJ)

Os acromiale is a developmental aberration in which the distal acromion fails to fuse. This aberration is often discovered incidentally but may present with a clinical picture similar to that of subacromial impingement syndrome. Treatment for symptomatic os acromiale is initially nonoperative-activity modification, physical therapy, corticosteroid injection, use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication. Nonoperative management of clinically significant, radiographically confirmed os acromiale should be pursued for at least 6 months before consideration of surgical intervention. Subacromial decompression is often necessary to address symptoms of impingement. Excision of the os fragment may provide definitive treatment for smaller fragments (<3 cm). Removal of larger fragments remains controversial and should be approached with caution. Surgical fixation of larger fragments with or without supplemental autograft in conjunction with a structured postoperative program of physical therapy can reliably provide relief for symptomatic os acromiale

– id: J0106960, year: 2005, vol: 34, page: 277, stat: Journal Article,