Timing of surgery is critical as the procedure for an acute repair is much simpler than the reconstruction required for a chronic separation.

The joint is reduced to its anatomical location and held in place with two small plates (endobuttons) connected by a continuous loop of extremely strong suture. The course of the device is anatomically placed and there are no knots, eliminating the possibility of knot slippage.

The AC joint is formed by the distal (lateral) end of the clavicle and the medial end of the acromion. It is above the "true" shoulder (glenohumeral) joint. It is smaller and has much less mobility than the shoulder joint so it has much less functional signficance in terms of active shoulder function.