title: [Holmium-YAG laser in outlet impingement of the shoulder. Mid-term results].
abstract: Arthroscopic widening of the subacromial space in the case of outlet impingement syndrome has many advantages over the open procedures. Arthroscopic subacromial decompression in case of impingement syndrome if refractory to conservative therapy, is an established procedure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of arthroscopic subacromial decompression using the holmium:YAG laser and compare them with the result of the conventional arthroscopic procedure. In a prospective study, 47 patients with stage II and III impingement syndrome were divided into two groups. The first group (20 patients) underwent conventional arthroscopic subacromial decompression. The second group (27 patients) underwent arthroscopic subacromial decompression performed with the holmium:YAG laser. The results were assessed using the constant score preoperatively and postoperatively with a follow-up of at least 1 year for each patient. Improvement in the laser group was seen in the criteria of motion and pain. Abduction power, found to be improved after 1 week and 6 weeks in earlier investigation, showed no significant improvement at the follow-up time of 1 year. The average score of both groups increased after 1 year: in the laser group from 57.4 preoperatively to 75.3, in the conventional group from 49.7 to 65.7. There were no specific complications due to the laser application.
authors.affiliation: Orthopädische Universitätsklinik Zürich, Klinik Balgrist.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Simoni
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ledermann
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Imhoff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001182:Arthroscopy; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006695:Holmium; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011859:Radiography; D012782:Shoulder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D006695:Holmium