The acromial branch of the thoracoacromial artery passes laterally over the coracoid process and beneath the deltoid to the acromion, where it anastomoses with the suprascapular artery and the posterior circumflex humeral artery to form the acromial arterial network. It is the primary blood supply to the acromion and the acromioclavicular joint.
The acromial branch is at risk during acromioplasty and distal clavicle excision, where division of the vessel can compromise acromial vascularity and contribute to acromial stress fractures post-surgery. The acromial arterial anastomosis is the collateral pathway for subclavian artery occlusion proximal to the thoracoacromial origin. Doppler assessment of the acromial branch is used in planning local flaps for shoulder reconstruction.
Stress fracture of the acromion following acromioplasty with disruption of the acromial blood supply, presenting as shoulder pain and weakness weeks after surgery with a fracture line on plain film.
This website uses cookies to enhance your experience. Some are essential for site functionality, while others help us analyze and improve your usage experience. Please review your options and make your choice.
If you are under 16 years old, please ensure that you have received consent from your parent or guardian for any non-essential cookies.
Your privacy is important to us. You can adjust your cookie settings at any time. For more information about how we use data, please read our privacy policy. You may change your preferences at any time by clicking on the settings button below.
Note that if you choose to disable some types of cookies, it may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.
Some required resources have been blocked, which can affect third-party services and may cause the site to not function properly.
This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and ensure the site functions properly. By continuing to use this site, you acknowledge and accept our use of cookies.
