title: Anterior acromioplasty: effect of litigation and workers' compensation.
abstract: Seventy-five consecutive anterior acromioplasties were performed in 74 patients with chronic inflammation of the supraspinatus tendon caused by the impingement syndrome. Thirty-six patients (49%) had filed workers' compensation claims (group 1), 21 patients (28%) were involved in accident litigation (group 2), and 17 patients (23%) had no financial gain associated with their shoulder pain (group 3). The patients were followed up for a minimum of 12 months after surgery (range 12 to 48 months). Sixty-one patients (82%) had excellent results, 11 patients (15%) had good results, and 2 patients (3%) failed to improve from surgery. Ninety-one percent of employed patients were able to return to full employment. Although group 1 patients required a significantly longer time to return to work (average 14.2 weeks vs. 4.7 weeks in group 2 and 2.5 weeks in group 3), these patients were all involved in heavy labor demanding a more complete return of shoulder endurance. Satisfactory pain relief and return to preinjury work activities can be achieved by acromioplasty in patients who have the potential for secondary gain.
authors.affiliation: Jefferson Shoulder Center, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Frieman
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fenlin
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D000174:Acromion / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000191:economics* / Q000601:surgery*; D012782:Shoulder / Q000601:surgery; D000070599:Shoulder Injuries; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000191:economics* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014942:Workers' Compensation