High patient satisfaction after arthroscopic subacromial decompression for shoulder impingement: a prospective study of 50 patients.

BACKGROUND

Arthroscopic subacromial decompression (ASD) for shoulder impingement has gained popularity. We evaluated the result of this common procedure prospectively, from a patient perspective.

METHOD: We used the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire (DASH) and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) to evaluate 50 patients with a mean age of 49 (27-72) years. All patients had undergone 6 months of failed nonoperative treatment prior to surgery. Exclusion criteria were total rotator cuff rupture, shoulder instability, clinically verified acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, calcifying tendonitis or neurological symptoms. All the decompressions were done by experienced shoulder arthroscopists.

RESULTS

A significant improvement in both the median DASH score and the VAS had occurred 6 months after surgery.

INTERPRETATION: ASD for impingement in properly selected patients performed by experienced surgeons gives a high degree of patient satisfaction 6 months after surgery.