Subacromial decompression for shoulder impingement syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the results in a consecutive series of patients who underwent subacromial decompression for shoulder impingement syndrome.


METHODS
Interventional quasi experimental study.


METHODS
Orthopaedic Department at St Mary s Hospital, Isle of Wight Healthcare England from May 1999 to August 2001.


METHODS
Twenty-five consecutive shoulders from 22 patients who underwent subacromial decompression for shoulder impingement syndrome were studied. Nineteen out of 25 shoulders were in stage I or II and 6 had stage III disease, having rotator cuff tear. All patients had a median 10 months course of conservative treatment before surgery. Patients were followed-up for 6 to 24 months postoperatively and assessed by clinical examination and the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder rating scale. Results were analysed by Wilcoxon s non-parametric test for internal comparison.


RESULTS
The differences in pre- and postoperative scores for pain, function, active forward flexion, strength of forward flexion and overall patient satisfaction were improved with p-values < 0.01 in for each. This was an overall improvement in 88% cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Subacromial decompression is an effective treatment for shoulder impingement syndrome. Accurate diagnosis, careful patient selection and appropriate surgical intervention results in a successful outcome and return to normal activities in majority of patients.
Rao
Sajid Ejaz
SE
Department of Orthopaedics, St Mary's Hospital, Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Trust, Newport, IOW, PO30 5TG, England. sajidrao@yahoo.com
Muzammil
Sohail
S
Hobbs
Nigel John
NJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D018579:Patient Selection; D020127:Recovery of Function; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D019534:Shoulder Impingement Syndrome / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome