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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffOften, a separated shoulder can be identified during a physical exam. Your doctor may use an X-ray of the shoulder or other imaging studies to confirm the diagnosis and study the extent of the injury.
A separated shoulder is graded depending on how far your collarbone is separated from your shoulder:
- Type I. You may have discomfort but not actual separation.
- Type II. There's a slight separation.
- Type III. Both the acromioclavicular and nearby coracoclavicular ligaments are completely torn.
- Types IV, V and VI. These are the most severe tears, and they often require surgery.
- Shoulder separation. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00033. Accessed Nov. 12, 2008.
- Shoulder problems. American Academy of Family Physicians. http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/tools/symptom/518.html. Accessed Nov. 12, 2008.
- Koehler SM. Acromioclavicular joint injury (shoulder separation). http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 12, 2008.
- McMahon PJ, et al. Sports Medicine: Acromioclavicular joint injury. In: Skinner HB. Current Diagnosis & Treatment in Orthopedics. 4th ed. The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2006. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2319233. Accessed Jan. 12, 2009.
- Gutman D, et al. Extremity Trauma: Acromioclavicular Joint Separation. In: Knoop KJ, et al. Atlas of Emergency Medicine. 2nd ed. The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2002. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=784421&searchStr=dislocation+of+acromioclavicular+joint. Accessed Jan. 12, 2009.
