Shoulder Separation Injuries

Picture of type I, type II, and type III shoulder separation injuries

A shoulder separation is the partial or complete separation of two parts of the shoulder: the collarbone (clavicle) and the end (acromion) of the shoulder blade (scapula). A shoulder separation can be type I, in which the acromioclavicular (AC) ligament is partially torn, but the coracoclavicular (CC) ligament is not injured. In a type II shoulder separation, the AC ligament is completely torn, and the CC ligament is either partially torn or not injured. A type III shoulder separation occurs when both the AC and CC ligaments are completely torn.

Credits

ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical ReviewerWilliam H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine
Specialist Medical ReviewerPatrick J. McMahon, MD - Orthopedic Surgery
Last RevisedAugust 29, 2011
By: Healthwise StaffLast Revised: August 29, 2011
Medical Review: William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine
Patrick J. McMahon, MD - Orthopedic Surgery

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