title: Treatment of chronic rotator-cuff impingement by arthroscopic subacromial decompression.
abstract: We report a prospective study of 49 patients who had arthroscopic subacromial decompression for chronic rotator-cuff impingement. All patients were assessed preoperatively and at 3, 6 and 12 months using the modified UCLA shoulder score. The dominant arm was affected in 35 patients, but only 13 recognised overuse as a cause of their shoulder pain. Before operation, the UCLA shoulder score was poor or fair in all patients. After three months only 28% of patients had satisfactory relief of symptoms but at one year 85% of patients examined had a good or excellent result. Patients with calcific tendonitis recovered more quickly: 93% reported a good result at six months. We conclude that arthroscopic subacromial decompression is an effective form of treatment, but that patients should be warned that recovery from surgery may be prolonged.
authors.affiliation: Princess Margaret Rose Orthopaedic Hospital, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Nutton
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: McBirnie
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Phillips
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001182:Arthroscopy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D017006:Rotator Cuff; D019534:Shoulder Impingement Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome