Abstract: Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the role of arthroscopic subacromial decompression in primary shoulder impingement due to secondary mechanical causes in terms of functional outcome.
Materials and Methods: Patients undergoing arthroscopic subacromial decompression at JSS Medical College, Mysore between September 2014 and May 2016 were studied prospectively. A total of 20 patients diagnosed with primary shoulder impingement meeting the required criteria were included in the study. The patients were put on a 6 week course of physiotherapy as initial trial with non-operative treatment. None of the patients responded to this treatment and persisted to have symptoms. These patients were treated surgically with arthroscopic subacromial decompression. The University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder rating scale was used to assess shoulder function. Assessment was done at pre-operative, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months, 9 months and 12 months post arthroscopic subacromial decompression.
Results: Patients had statistically significant improvement in shoulder function after arthroscopic sub acromial decompression (
p<0.001) compared to preoperative shoulder function at the end of non-operative treatment.
Conclusion: Arthroscopic subacromial decompression has a definitive role in primary shoulder impingement due to secondary mechanical causes as it produces well to excellent results while being minimally invasive.
