Shoulder Separation

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Medical Author:

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Cunha's educational background includes a BS in Biology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a DO from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, MO. He completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey.

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Medical Editor:

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Dr. Balentine received his undergraduate degree from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. He attended medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine graduating in1983. He completed his internship at St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia and his Emergency Medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, where he served as chief resident.

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• Shoulder Separation Overview
• Shoulder Separation Causes
• Shoulder Separation Symptoms and Signs
• When to Seek Medical Care for a Shoulder Separation
• Shoulder Separation Diagnosis
• Shoulder Separation Treatment
• Self-Care at Home
• Medical Treatment for a Shoulder Separation
• Follow-up
• Prognosis of a Shoulder Separation
• Shoulder Separation Pictures
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Authors and Editors
• Read more on Shoulder Separation from Healthwise

A shoulder separation occurs after a fall or a sharp blow to the top of the shoulder. This injury is usually sports related or due to car accidents or falls. This is not the same as a shoulder dislocation, which occurs at the large joint where the arm attaches to the shoulder, although the two may appear to be the same.

The shoulder separation, or acromioclavicular (AC) dislocation, is an injury to the junction between the collarbone and the shoulder. It is usually a soft-tissue or ligament injury but may include a fracture (broken bone). In severe shoulder separations, the coracoclavicular (CC) ligament is also injured.

Depending on the damage done to the joint, there are different classifications (grades) to define the amount of injury:

• Type I: The AC ligament is partially torn, but the CC ligament is not injured.
• Type II: The AC ligament is completely torn, and the CC ligament is either not injured or partially torn. The collarbone is partially separated from the acromion.
• Type III: Both the AC and CC ligaments are completely torn. The collarbone and the acromion are completely separated.
• Types IV through VI: These are uncommon and involve tearing of the muscles across the shoulder and neck.

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