Acute shoulder pain in primary care - an observational study.
BACKGROUND
Shoulder pain is a common presentation in general practice. Data on prognosis, treatment and compliance for acute shoulder pain are lacking but would be valuable for guiding decision making. This study collected data on acute shoulder pain and its outcome over 6 months.


METHODS
A prospective observational study of 100 acute shoulder pain patients from 21 general practices in southeast Queensland.


RESULTS
Disability levels at presentation were the best predictor of outcome at 6 months. Patients who had not fully recovered at 6 months had higher risk of depression at presentation. The biggest improvements in pain and disability scores occurred in the first month of management, with almost 60% of patients fully recovered at 6 months. Over 40% of patients had at least one radiological investigation for their pain.


CONCLUSIONS
Measuring disability, pain and mood levels in acute shoulder pain patients gives the best prognostic data. The use of radiological investigations may be higher than is clinically necessary. Early multimodal management of acute shoulder pain patients needs consideration.
Masters
Scott
S
University of Otago, New Zealand. scotty1@ozemail.com.au
O'Doherty
Lorna
L
Mitchell
Geoffrey K
GK
Yelland
Michael
M
D000208:Acute Disease; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005194:Family Practice; D006801:Humans; D019370:Observation; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology
D000700:Analgesics