Shoulder Separation: Symptoms and Treatment

What is a shoulder separation?

Violent overstretching of the acromioclavicular ligaments in the shoulder where it meets the collarbone(clavicle). Sprains involving two or more ligaments cause considerably more disability than single ligament strains. When the ligament is overstretched, it becomes tense and gives way at it weakest point, either where it attaches to the bone or within the ligament itself. If the ligament pulls away a fragment of bone it is called an avulsion fracture. There are three types of sprains:

1. A mild or (grade I) sprain, Tearing of some ligaments fibers. There is no loss of strength.
2. A moderate or (grade II) sprain, which is a rupture of a portion of the ligament, resulting in some loss of function.
3. Severe (grade III) sprain, which is a complete rupture of the ligament or complete separation of the ligament from bone. There is a total loss of function. A severe sprain may require surgical repair. The higher grades of shoulder separation show injury to the coracoclavicular ligaments as well as to the acromioclavicular ligaments

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