Os Acromiale PDF Evidence¶
Patient-facing topic on os acromiale — failed fusion of an acromial ossification centre that may cause shoulder pain and contribute to subacromial impingement.
What you're feeling¶
You may feel pain in the top of your shoulder. This condition affects about 2.13% of patients with shoulder problems who need an MRI. The pain often comes from a tear in the rotator cuff, which is a group of muscles and tendons that move your arm. This tear happens because the extra bone piece moves abnormally and rubs against your other tissues.
Your pain might flare up after you do certain activities. It can also wake you up at night or hurt when you try to sleep on that side. Simple daily tasks can become difficult. You might struggle to reach behind your back to fasten a bra or tuck in a shirt. These movements put pressure on the area where the bone pieces do not fully join together.
If you have had shoulder replacement surgery, you might notice tenderness right over this bone piece. This happens in 1 out of 4 patients after the procedure. The good news is that this soreness usually goes away on its own over time for most people. Your surgeon will check your symptoms to decide if this extra bone piece is the main cause of your pain.
What's actually happening¶
Your shoulder has a small bone fragment called the os acromiale that hasn't fused to the main bone. This happens in about 2.13% of patients with shoulder problems needing an MRI. Think of this unfused spot as a loose gasket between two parts of your shoulder bone. Instead of moving as one solid piece, this loose fragment can rub and shift when you move your arm.
This abnormal motion often irritates the soft tissues nearby. The rotator cuff is a group of tendons that act like ropes to lift and rotate your arm. Because the loose bone moves strangely, it can pinch these tendons. This pinching, or impingement, often leads to a rotator cuff tear. In young athletes, this specific injury pattern is common and needs careful checking to confirm the diagnosis.
Sometimes this loose bone can get hurt after a fall or injury, though this is rare. If you have surgery for other reasons, like a reverse total shoulder replacement, you might feel local tenderness at this spot in 1 out of 4 patients. This soreness usually goes away on its own over time. Having this extra bone fragment does not seem to hurt your overall results from major shoulder replacement surgery.
What we can do about it¶
Most people start with self-care and physical therapy to manage pain. Your therapist will guide exercises to strengthen the shoulder muscles and improve movement. This approach aims to reduce friction where the extra bone piece sits. You should give this non-surgical plan a fair trial before considering other steps.
If pain persists, your surgeon may discuss medication or injections. Anti-inflammatory drugs can help reduce swelling and soreness around the joint. In some cases, a cortisone injection is used to calm inflammation quickly. While the evidence does not specify exact durations for these treatments, many patients find relief while the medication works. If you are a competitive athlete, your surgeon will weigh the risks carefully, as surgery is often not recommended for professional tennis players.
Surgery is usually considered only if these conservative measures fail to control your symptoms. The goal of the operation is to remove the unstable bone fragment or fix it in place to stop the painful motion. This decision is made together with your surgeon after reviewing your specific case and imaging results.
When to see someone¶
See your GP if you have persistent shoulder pain that does not improve with rest. Ask for a specialist review if you notice weakness, instability, or your shoulder locks or gives way. Symptoms that interfere with sleep or work also require attention. Seek help if you experience a sudden worsening of pain. This condition is linked to rotator cuff injuries, which may cause impingement from abnormal motion. While rare, the joint can be injured after trauma. If you are a professional tennis player, surgical treatment is usually not indicated, but a specialist can confirm the diagnosis through examination and imaging.
Evidence & references
title: "Os Acromiale" slug: os-acromiale region: shoulder audience: patient mesh_terms: [] article_count: 28 model_used: qwen3.5-35b-a3b-q8 generated_at: '2026-05-18T14:14:36+00:00' key_articles: - title: "Prevalence of Os Acromiale in Thai Patients With Shoulder Problems: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study" ref_num: 1 evidence_tier: paper evidence_level: 3 doi: 10.1177/23259671221078806 year: 2022 - title: "Os acromiale: systematic review of surgical outcomes" ref_num: 2 evidence_tier: paper evidence_level: 4 doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2019.05.047 year: 2020 - title: "Os Acromiale in Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Cohort Study" ref_num: 3 evidence_tier: paper evidence_level: 3 doi: 10.1177/2325967120965131 year: 2020 - title: "Clinical implications of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty with an os acromiale: a systematic review" ref_num: 4 evidence_tier: paper evidence_level: 4 doi: 10.1016/j.xrrt.2025.01.002 year: 2025 - title: "Prevalence and factors associated with os acromiale: a multicenter study" ref_num: 5 evidence_tier: paper evidence_level: 3 doi: 10.1016/j.jseint.2025.05.015 year: 2025 - title: "The prevalence and associated factors of os acromiale: a multicenter study" ref_num: 6 evidence_tier: paper evidence_level: 3 doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2025.01.008 year: 2025 - title: "Os Acromiale in Professional Tennis Players" ref_num: 7 evidence_tier: paper evidence_level: 4 doi: 10.1177/2325967118773723 year: 2018 - title: "Rotator cuff tears associated with os acromiale." ref_num: 8 evidence_tier: paper evidence_level: 4 doi: 10.2106/00004623-198466080-00029 year: 1984 - title: "Reverse shoulder arthroplasty in patients with os acromiale" ref_num: 9 evidence_tier: paper evidence_level: 4 doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2017.02.012 year: 2017 - title: "Os Acromiale: Frequency, Anatomy, and Clinical Implications*" ref_num: 10 evidence_tier: paper evidence_level: 4 doi: 10.2106/00004623-200003000-00010 year: 2000 - title: "The unstable os acromiale: a cause of pain in the young athlete" ref_num: 11 evidence_tier: paper evidence_level: 4 doi: 10.1016/j.jseint.2020.02.008 year: 2020 - title: "Os acromiale may be a contraindication of the clavicle hook plate: case reports and literature review" ref_num: 12 evidence_tier: paper evidence_level: 4 doi: 10.1186/s12891-021-04841-1 year: 2021 - title: "Fracture of an os acromiale with associated rupture of the coracoclavicular ligaments" ref_num: 13 evidence_tier: paper evidence_level: 4 doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2008.02.012 year: 2008 - title: "Rare Symptomatic Meta–Os Acromiale in an Athlete" ref_num: 15 evidence_tier: paper evidence_level: 4 doi: 10.1177/03635465211028238 year: 2021 - title: "Symptomatic, Unstable Os Acromiale" ref_num: 16 evidence_tier: paper evidence_level: 5 doi: 10.5435/jaaos-d-17-00011 year: 2018 - title: "Arthroscopically assisted internal fixation of the symptomatic unstable os acromiale with absorbable screws" ref_num: 17 evidence_tier: paper evidence_level: 4 doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2011.12.011 year: 2012 - title: "Os acromiale: a review of its incidence, pathophysiology, and clinical management" ref_num: 19 evidence_tier: paper evidence_level: 4 doi: 10.1302/2058-5241.4.180100 year: 2019 - title: "Surgical Stabilization of Os Acromiale in a Fast-Pitch Softball Pitcher" ref_num: 21 evidence_tier: paper evidence_level: 4 doi: 10.1177/0363546506288305 year: 2006 - title: "Reverse shoulder arthroplasty with os acromiale" ref_num: 24 evidence_tier: paper evidence_level: 4 doi: 10.5397/cise.2019.00409 year: 2020 synthesis_version: "v2" verifier_status: skipped
Overview¶
- In Thai patients with shoulder problems requiring MRI evaluation, the prevalence of os acromiale was 2.13% [1].
- Os acromiale is associated with rotator cuff injuries [5].
- A multicenter study aimed to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with os acromiale in the Japanese population [6].
- Operative management of a symptomatic os acromiale that has failed initial nonoperative treatment leads to decreased symptoms and improvement in clinical outcomes [2].
- Surgical options for symptomatic os acromiale include arthroscopic sub-total excision [16].
- Surgical options for symptomatic os acromiale include arthroscopic subacromial decompression of stable fragments [16].
- Surgical options for symptomatic os acromiale include open reduction and internal fixation of unstable fragments [16].
- Surgical treatment is usually not indicated for os acromiale in the professional tennis player [7].
- Ipsilateral os acromiale may be a relative contraindication to the clavicle hook plate [12].
- Postoperative local tenderness at the os acromiale can be expected in 1 out of 4 patients after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty [3].
- Postoperative local tenderness at the os acromiale resolves spontaneously over time in the majority of patients after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty [3].
- The presence of os acromiale does not appear to have a negative impact on clinical outcomes after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty [4].
- The outcome of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty does not seem to be negatively affected by the presence of an os acromiale [9].
Anatomy & Pathophysiology¶
- The prevalence of os acromiale in Thai patients with shoulder problems requiring MRI evaluation is 2.13% [1].
- Os acromiale is associated with rotator cuff injuries [5].
- A tear of the rotator cuff may often be associated with os acromiale, likely due to impingement from abnormal motion at the fibrous union site [8].
- Fused os acromiale, which has not been described previously, might be mistaken for a free ossicle in the clinical setting [10].
- Awareness of the os acromiale in the young athlete is crucial to confirm diagnosis through appropriate clinical examination and image studies [11].
- The synchondrosis of an os acromiale can be injured following trauma, though rarely [13].
- Postoperative local tenderness at the os acromiale can be expected in 1 out of 4 patients after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty [3].
- Postoperative local tenderness at the os acromiale resolves spontaneously over time in the majority of patients [3].
- The presence of os acromiale does not appear to have a negative impact on clinical outcomes after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty [4].
- The outcome of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty does not seem to be negatively affected by the presence of an os acromiale [9].
- Reverse shoulder arthroplasty improves range of motion, decreases pain, and increases patient satisfaction in patients with os acromiale and cuff tear arthropathy [24].
- Surgical treatment is usually not indicated for os acromiale in the professional tennis player [7].
Classification¶
- The prevalence of os acromiale in Thai patients with shoulder problems requiring MRI evaluation is 2.13% [1].
- Os acromiale is associated with rotator cuff injuries [5].
- A tear of the rotator cuff may often be associated with os acromiale, likely due to impingement from abnormal motion at the fibrous union site [8].
- Fused os acromiale, which has not been described previously, might be mistaken for a free ossicle in the clinical setting [10].
- Awareness of the os acromiale in the young athlete, appropriate clinical examination, and image studies are crucial to confirm diagnosis [11].
- The synchondrosis of an os acromiale can be injured following trauma, though rarely [13].
- Meta-os acromiale is the rarest subtype of os acromiale [15].
Clinical Presentation¶
- The prevalence of os acromiale in Thai patients with shoulder problems requiring MRI evaluation was 2.13% [1].
- Os acromiale is associated with rotator cuff injuries [5].
- A tear of the rotator cuff may often be associated with os acromiale, likely due to impingement from abnormal motion at the fibrous union site [8].
- The presence of os acromiale does not appear to have a negative impact on clinical outcomes after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) [4].
- The outcome of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) does not seem to be negatively affected by the presence of an os acromiale [9].
- Postoperative local tenderness at the os acromiale can be expected in 1 out of 4 patients following rTSA [3].
- Postoperative local tenderness at the os acromiale resolves spontaneously over time in the majority of patients [3].
- Surgical treatment is usually not indicated for os acromiale in professional tennis players [7].
- Awareness of the os acromiale, appropriate clinical examination, and image studies are crucial to confirm diagnosis in young athletes [11].
- Ipsilateral os acromiale may be a relative contraindication to the clavicle hook plate [12].
- The synchondrosis of an os acromiale can be injured following trauma, though rarely [13].
- Fused os acromiale, which has not been described previously, might be mistaken for a free ossicle in the clinical setting [10].
- Meta-os acromiale is the rarest subtype of os acromiale [15].
- Liberson reviewed 1800 shoulder girdles and identified an incidence of os acromiale of 1.4% [14].
- The lesion of os acromiale is bilateral in 62% of patients according to Liberson's review [14].
Investigations¶
- The prevalence of os acromiale in Thai patients with shoulder problems requiring MRI evaluation is 2.13% [1].
- Os acromiale is associated with rotator cuff injuries [5].
- A tear of the rotator cuff may often be associated with os acromiale, likely due to impingement from abnormal motion at the fibrous union site [8].
- Awareness of the os acromiale in the young athlete, appropriate clinical examination, and image studies are crucial to confirm diagnosis [11].
- The synchondrosis of an os acromiale can be injured following trauma, though rarely [13].
- Appropriate radiographic investigation for os acromiale injury includes axillary views [13].
- Fused os acromiale, which has not been described previously, might be mistaken for a free ossicle in the clinical setting [10].
- Liberson reviewed 1800 shoulder girdles and identified an incidence of os acromiale of 1.4% [14].
- The lesion of os acromiale is bilateral in 62% of patients according to Liberson's review [14].
Treatment¶
- Operative management of a symptomatic os acromiale that has failed initial nonoperative treatment leads to decreased symptoms and improvement in clinical outcomes [2].
- Surgical options for symptomatic os acromiale include arthroscopic sub-total excision, arthroscopic subacromial decompression of stable fragments, and open reduction and internal fixation of unstable fragments [16].
- Open reduction and internal fixation using cannulated screws or tension band wiring have superior outcomes in the literature in the treatment of symptomatic os acromiale [19].
- A new arthroscopic technique of fixation of os acromiale with absorbable screws provides promising clinical, cosmetic, and radiologic results with high patient satisfaction [17].
- A symptomatic os acromiale in a competitive female fastball pitcher was treated successfully with open reduction and internal fixation [21].
- Special consideration must be given to the type of tension-band construct used to achieve adequate compression and fixation for meta-os acromiale, the rarest subtype of os acromiale [15].
- Surgical treatment is usually not indicated for os acromiale in the professional tennis player [7].
- Ipsilateral os acromiale may be a relative contraindication to the clavicle hook plate [12].
- Postoperative local tenderness at the os acromiale can be expected in 1 out of 4 patients but resolves spontaneously over time in the majority of patients [3].
- The presence of os acromiale does not appear to have a negative impact on the clinical outcomes after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) [4].
- The outcome of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) does not seem to be negatively affected by the presence of an os acromiale [9].
Complications¶
- The prevalence of os acromiale in Thai patients with shoulder problems requiring MRI evaluation was 2.13% [1].
- Operative management of a symptomatic os acromiale that has failed initial nonoperative treatment leads to decreased symptoms and improvement in clinical outcomes [2].
- Postoperative local tenderness at the os acromiale can be expected in 1 out of 4 patients following reverse total shoulder arthroplasty [3].
- Postoperative local tenderness at the os acromiale resolves spontaneously over time in the majority of patients [3].
- The presence of os acromiale does not appear to have a negative impact on clinical outcomes after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty [4].
- Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty remains a safe and effective treatment option in the presence of os acromiale [4].
- Os acromiale is associated with rotator cuff injuries [5].
- A tear of the rotator cuff may often be associated with os acromiale, likely due to impingement from abnormal motion at the fibrous union site [8].
- Surgical treatment is usually not indicated for os acromiale in professional tennis players [7].
- Fused os acromiale, which has not been described previously, might be mistaken for a free ossicle in the clinical setting [10].
- The incidence of os acromiale identified by Liberson was 1.4% [14].
- The lesion of os acromiale was bilateral in 62% of patients in Liberson's review [14].
Recovery¶
- Operative management of a symptomatic os acromiale that has failed initial nonoperative treatment leads to decreased symptoms and improvement in clinical outcomes [2].
- Postoperative local tenderness at the os acromiale can be expected in 1 out of 4 patients but resolves spontaneously over time in the majority of patients [3].
- The presence of os acromiale does not appear to have a negative impact on the clinical outcomes after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) [4].
- Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) remains a safe and effective treatment option in patients with os acromiale [4].
- The outcome of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) does not seem to be negatively affected by the presence of an os acromiale [9].
- Surgical treatment is usually not indicated for os acromiale in professional tennis players [7].
Key Evidence¶
- [L3] In Thai patients with shoulder problems who required MRI evaluation, the prevalence of os acromiale was 2.13%. (10.1177/23259671221078806)
- [L4] Operative management of a symptomatic os acromiale that has failed initial nonoperative treatment leads to decreased symptoms and improvement in clinical outcomes. (10.1016/j.jse.2019.05.047)
- [L3] Postoperative local tenderness at the os acromiale can be expected in 1 out of 4 patients but resolves spontaneously over time in the majority of patients. (10.1177/2325967120965131)
- [L4] The presence of os acromiale does not appear to have a negative impact on the clinical outcomes after surgery and rTSA remains a safe and effective treatment option. (10.1016/j.xrrt.2025.01.002)
- [L3] The study supports previous findings that os acromiale is associated with rotator cuff injuries. (10.1016/j.jseint.2025.05.015)
- [L3] This multicenter study aimed to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with os acromiale in the Japanese population. (10.1016/j.jse.2025.01.008)
- [L4] Surgical treatment is usually not indicated for os acromiale in the professional tennis player. (10.1177/2325967118773723)
- [L4] A tear of the rotator cuff may often be associated with os acromiale, likely due to impingement from abnormal motion at the fibrous union site. (10.2106/00004623-198466080-00029)
- [L4] The outcome of RTSA does not seem to be negatively affected by the presence of an os acromiale. (10.1016/j.jse.2017.02.012)
- [L4] An anatomical study showed that fused os acromiale, which has not been described previously, might be mistaken for a free ossicle in the clinical setting. (10.2106/00004623-200003000-00010)
- [L4] Awareness of the os acromiale in the young athlete, appropriate clinical examination, and image studies are crucial to confirm diagnosis. (10.1016/j.jseint.2020.02.008)
- [L4] Ipsilateral os acromiale may be a relative contraindication to the clavicle hook plate. (10.1186/s12891-021-04841-1)
- [L4] This case highlights that the synchondrosis of an os acromiale can be injured following trauma, though rarely, and emphasizes the need for appropriate radiographic investigation including axillary views and a flexible surgical approach. (10.1016/j.jse.2008.02.012)
- [L4] Meta–os acromiale is the rarest subtype of os acromiale, and special consideration must be given to the type of tension-band construct used to achieve adequate compression and fixation. (10.1177/03635465211028238)
- [L5] Surgical options for symptomatic os acromiale include arthroscopic sub-total excision, arthroscopic subacromial decompression of stable fragments, and open reduction and internal fixation of unstable fragments. (10.5435/jaaos-d-17-00011)
- [L4] This new arthroscopic technique of fixation of os acromiale with absorbable screws provides promising clinical, cosmetic, and radiologic results with high patient satisfaction. (10.1016/j.jse.2011.12.011)
- [L4] Open reduction and internal fixation using cannulated screws, or tension band wiring have superior outcomes in the literature in the treatment of symptomatic os acromiale. (10.1302/2058-5241.4.180100)
- [L4] A symptomatic os acromiale in a competitive female fastball pitcher was treated successfully with open reduction and internal fixation. (10.1177/0363546506288305)
- [L4] Reverse shoulder arthroplasty improved ROM, decreased pain, and increased patient satisfaction in patients with os acromiale and cuff tear arthropathy. (10.5397/cise.2019.00409)
References¶
[1] Prevalence of Os Acromiale in Thai Patients With Shoulder Problems: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. 2022. DOI: 10.1177/23259671221078806 [2] Os acromiale: systematic review of surgical outcomes. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 2020. DOI: 10.1016/j.jse.2019.05.047 [3] Os Acromiale in Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Cohort Study. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. 2020. DOI: 10.1177/2325967120965131 [4] Clinical implications of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty with an os acromiale: a systematic review. JSES Reviews, Reports, and Techniques. 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.xrrt.2025.01.002 [5] Prevalence and factors associated with os acromiale: a multicenter study. JSES International. 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.jseint.2025.05.015 [6] The prevalence and associated factors of os acromiale: a multicenter study. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.jse.2025.01.008 [7] Os Acromiale in Professional Tennis Players. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine. 2018. DOI: 10.1177/2325967118773723 [8] Rotator cuff tears associated with os acromiale.. The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. 1984. DOI: 10.2106/00004623-198466080-00029 [9] Reverse shoulder arthroplasty in patients with os acromiale. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 2017. DOI: 10.1016/j.jse.2017.02.012 [10] Os Acromiale: Frequency, Anatomy, and Clinical Implications. The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery-American Volume. 2000. DOI: 10.2106/00004623-200003000-00010 [11] The unstable os acromiale: a cause of pain in the young athlete. JSES International. 2020. DOI: 10.1016/j.jseint.2020.02.008 [12] Os acromiale may be a contraindication of the clavicle hook plate: case reports and literature review. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2021. DOI: 10.1186/s12891-021-04841-1 [13] Fracture of an os acromiale with associated rupture of the coracoclavicular ligaments. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 2008. DOI: 10.1016/j.jse.2008.02.012 [14] Types of os acromiale according to Liberson. 2006. [15] Rare Symptomatic Meta–Os Acromiale in an Athlete. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2021. DOI: 10.1177/03635465211028238 [16] Symptomatic, Unstable Os Acromiale. Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 2018. DOI: 10.5435/jaaos-d-17-00011 [17] Arthroscopically assisted internal fixation of the symptomatic unstable os acromiale with absorbable screws. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. 2012. DOI: 10.1016/j.jse.2011.12.011 [19] Os acromiale: a review of its incidence, pathophysiology, and clinical management. EFORT Open Reviews. 2019. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.4.180100 [21] Surgical Stabilization of Os Acromiale in a Fast-Pitch Softball Pitcher. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2006. DOI: 10.1177/0363546506288305 [24] Reverse shoulder arthroplasty with os acromiale. Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow*. 2020. DOI: 10.5397/cise.2019.00409