Abstract
From January 1995 to January 1999, the author performed arthroscopic subacromial decompression (ASD) on 220 patients.
The mean age of patients was 47.4 years (28 to 72). The follow-up period ranged from 4 to 60 months. The modified UCLA scoring system was used to evaluate patients at four months and again at 24 to 60 months. At short-term follow-up, 91% of patients achieved good to excellent results. However, patients reviewed for two years or longer showed a 98% successful outcome. Stiffness was commonly the last thing to improve, and three patients required surgical intervention.
Early mobilisation with posterior capsular stretching is recommended. Careful clinical assessment of patients with chronic rotator cuff impingement and accurate identification of arthroscopic impingement signs ensures a successful outcome. This study confirms other reports that ASD produces good results in carefully-selected patients.
The abstracts were prepared by Professor M. B. E. Sweet. Correspondence should be addressed to him at The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Medical School, University of Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg, 2193 South Africa
