October 4, 2013: Acromioclavicular Separation

Ben went on the injured list last night. After a trip to Lakeside Hospital and an x-ray, it was determined that he had an AC separation. Although Ben's explanation assured me that it wasn't serious, it didn't give me the pictorial or explanation of body parts affected. So I have since Googled it. For those interested, Wikipedia came through with the explanation below.

It sounds like Ben will be out one game, but back on the field in a couple of weeks. Last night I received a number of texts inquiring on Ben's well-being. One friend commented that this was "part of the footballing badge of honor". True story. For Ben this badge was first earned many years ago. This wasn't his first rodeo.

In 2008, Ben was playing football in the University of Nebraska Pavilion before the Kansas game. This was the standard pre-game venue for my boys and their friends. It was a pick-up football game before the big "real" game.

On this occasion Zach and his buddies were playing on the same team as Zach's little brother. With a dare, the big boys convinced twelve year-old Ben to take down the largest opponent on the other side of the imaginary turf line.

Folklore has it that Ben went after him with gusty and tried to "table tackle" this large, older boy. Ben got him down, but the boy fell on top of Ben's shoulder as Ben lay sideways. The rest of the story includes a broken collar bone and a trip to the Lincoln ER.

Although white as a ghost, Ben insisted on sitting through the NU game in a sling. Nebraska did win that game; as did Skutt last night. Time to get Ben's acromioclavicular back to normal position. The good news; this is a much quicker recovery than the broken collar bone.

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Per Wikipedia:
A separated shoulder (also known as acromioclavicular separation, AC joint separation, AC separation), is a common injury to the acromioclavicular joint. This is not to be confused with shoulder dislocation. The AC joint is located at the distal end of the clavicle, known as the acromial end, and attaches to the acromion of the scapula. Although this is part of the shoulder, a dislocation and a separation are completely different. Acromioclavicular separation occurs as a result of a downward force being applied to the superior part of the acromion, either by something striking the top of the acromion or by falling directly on it. The injury is more likely to occur if the shoulder is struck with the hand outstretched.