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Injection of the acromioclavicular joint

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

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The acromioclavicular joint may become inflamed and tender in osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritis, spondyloarthropathy and in septic arthritis. Injection may assist in treating and diagnosing shoulder pain. Aspiration or injection may be difficult as the joint is usually narrow.

The joint line is identified by palpation, which can be assited by pressing downwards on the end of the clavicle whilst sliding the humerus up and down, with the arm held by the patient's side. Once the joint space is identified, a needle can be introduced perpendicular to the articular cleft from a superior or anterosuperior direction. The needle is advanced 0.5 cm and an injection placed against resistance to distend the joint capsule.

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