In most cases, the first three fuse at 15–18 years, whereas the base part fuses to the scapular spine at 12 years. However, in between 1% and 15% of cases, this osseous union fails and the acromion remains separate as an accessory bone. This condition is referred to as os acromiale, but rarely causes pain. Earlier estimates of its prevalence were as low as 1.4%, and this higher estimate was made by Sammarco in the year 2000, based on radiographic and anatomical studies.Four types of os acromiale can be distinguished:
A non-union between the meso- and meta-acromia, the most common or typical os acromiale
A non-union between the pre- and meso-acromia
A non-union between the pre- and meso-acromia; and between the meso- and meta-acromia, atypical
A non-union between the pre- and meso-acromia; between the pre- and meso-acromia; and between the meta- and basi-acromiaThis feature was common in skeletons recovered from the Mary Rose shipwreck: it is thought that in those men, much archery practice from childhood on with the mediaeval war bow (which needs a pull three times as strong as the modern standard Olympic bow) pulled at the acromion so much that it prevented bony fusion of the acromion with the scapula. Although historically regarded as an incidental finding, the os acromiale may occasionally produce symptoms from subacromial impingement or instability at the site of non-union. In people with symptoms of  os acromiale, dynamic ultrasound sometimes shows hypermobility in the area during shoulder movement, or graded compression with the probe.
B. 263 (1366): 111–117. doi:10.1098/rspb.1996.0018. S2CID 84529868. Rieppel, Olivier; Reisz, Robert R. (1999). "The Origin and Early Evolution of Turtles". Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics. 30: 1–22. doi:10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.30.1.1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-12-26. Retrieved 2020-06-08. Warner, Jon J.P.; Beim, Gloria M.; Higgins, Laurence (September 1998). "The Treatment of Symptomatic Os Acromiale". The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. 80 (9): 1320–6. doi:10.2106/00004623-199809000-00011. PMID 9759817. == External links ==