The Mumford procedure, also known as distal clavicle excision or distal clavicle resection, is an orthopedic procedure performed to ameliorate shoulder pain and discomfort by excising the distal (lateral) end of the

clavicle The clavicle, or collarbone, is a slender, S-shaped long bone approximately 6 inches (15 cm) long that serves as a strut between the shoulder blade and the sternum (breastbone). There are two clavicles, one on the left and one on the rig ...

. Those suffering from

osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis (OA) is a type of degenerative joint disease that results from breakdown of joint cartilage and underlying bone which affects 1 in 7 adults in the United States. It is believed to be the fourth leading cause of disability in the ...

in the

acromioclavicular joint The acromioclavicular joint, or AC joint, is a joint at the top of the shoulder. It is the junction between the acromion (part of the scapula that forms the highest point of the shoulder) and the clavicle. It is a plane synovial joint. Structure ...

can opt for this procedure when non-surgical alternatives (e.g.,

cortisone Cortisone is a pregnene (21-carbon) steroid hormone. It is a naturally-occurring corticosteroid metabolite that is also used as a pharmaceutical prodrug; it is not synthesized in the adrenal glands. Cortisol is converted by the action of the ...

injection) are unsuccessful. The surgery can be performed through an open or arthroscopic procedure. A regimen of physical therapy following surgery is prescribed and most patients experience full recovery within 8 to 10 weeks post-surgery. The procedure was created by, and named for, orthopedic surgeon Eugene Bishop Mumford in 1941.

References

Orthopedic surgical procedures Medical procedures Shoulder {{orthopedics-stub