Abstract
We reported that the sliding method was very useful for nonunion case of acromion fracture and an os acromiale. It is often happens that, in fracture of the acromion, the distal fragment is dragged by the deltoid muscle and dislocated downward, which makes it nonunion. Also an os acromiale that is unfused acromial epiphysis can become a cause of subacromial impingement syndrome and in some cases, the open reduction internal fixation fails to unite fragments. We treated by sliding method such cases and observed good results. The targets were 8 cases we treated by sliding method during the period between 2002 and 2007 (5 cases of the fracture of acromion, 3 cases of the os acromiale: 5 males, 3 females). The average age at the time of the operation was 29 years old (16 to 42), with 6 right shoulders and 2 left shoulders. We studied the place of unfused area, complications, the relationship between the A-C joint and unfused area, the rate of bone union, and the results of the surgery. We got bone unions in all cases. There was no nonunion case after sliding method. The sliding method was originally developed by Albee. This technique is very useful to get bone unions for a non-union case of acromion fracture and an os acromiale without iliac bone transplantation.
