Comparison of the arthroscopic and open surgery for the treatment of acute high-grade acromioclavicular joint dislocation using suture button: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose To conduct a meta-analysis of clinical studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of arthroscopic and open surgery for the treatment of acute high-grade acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) dislocation using a suture button. Methods The review process was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Two independent reviewers conducted the literature searches based on preferred reporting items from systematic reviews and meta-analyses. PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched for studies comparing arthroscopic and open surgery for the treatment of acute high-grade ACJ dislocation using a suture button. Constant score, visual analog scale, coracoclavicular distance, acromioclavicular distance, operation time, and occurrence of complications were analyzed. Results Five studies comprising a total of 198 patients were included in this study. The findings revealed that, in comparison to open fixation, arthroscopic fixation resulted in longer surgical durations. However, there were no significant differences between the two techniques in terms of constant score, visual analog scale, coracoclavicular distance, acromioclavicular distance, or the occurrence of complications. Conclusions Based on current evidence, arthroscopic fixation demonstrates comparable postoperative outcomes to open fixation, albeit with longer surgical durations. With ongoing technological advancements and refinement of surgical techniques, the efficiency and accessibility of arthroscopy are expected to improve, potentially solidifying its role as a superior choice in the future.