• PURPOSE
    • The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of arthroscopic distal clavicle resection by the direct superior approach for treatment of isolated osteolysis of the distal clavicle.
  • TYPE OF STUDY
    • Case series.
  • MATERIALS AND METHODS
    • Forty-one shoulders in 37 patients underwent arthroscopic resection of the distal clavicle. Thirty-three patients were male and 4 female, with an average age of 39 years. All patients complained of pain localized to the acromioclavicular joint region. Symptoms began after a traumatic event in 18 shoulders and were associated with repetitive stressful activity in 23 shoulders.
  • RESULTS
    • At an average follow-up of 6.2 years, 22 shoulders had excellent results, 16 had good results, and 3 were failures. All 3 failures occurred in patients with a traumatic etiology.
  • CONCLUSIONS
    • Arthroscopic resection for osteolysis of the distal clavicle has results comparable to open excision with low morbidity. Patients with a traumatic etiology had slightly worse results compared with patients with a microtraumatic etiology.