Abstract
Aim. The purpose of this study was to assess the outcome of arthroscopic shoulder surgery by evaluating the pre- and postoperative shoulder function using a simple self-assessment questionnaire filled in by the patient.
Patients and Methods. In this study 89 patients were studied who underwent arthroscopic subacromial decompression. Shoulder function was assessed preoperatively and at 3 to 6 months following surgery according to a self-assessment questionnaire, which was developed in our Shoulder Unit. It allows for a maximum score of hundred, with 30 points for pain, 20 for power and 50 points for work, recreation and 8 activities of daily living.
Results. All patients reported improvement in shoulder function with an average total shoulder score increase from 33.4% preoperatively to 87.8% post-surgery. The pain score increased from 21% to 83%, power from 30% to 89% and activities of daily living from 42% to 90%. Detailed analysis of ADL’s showed substantial improvement in all functions.
Conclusion. This study has shown that minimal invasive surgery to the shoulder in the form of arthroscopic procedure, results in satisfactory improvement of all outcome measures in the majority of the patients. Together with low morbidity and early functional recovery, shoulder arthroscopy appears to be the procedure of choice in current surgical practice.
We believe that the self-assessment questionnaire represents a useful outcome measure and reflects the improvement in shoulder function as perceived by the patient.
The abstracts were prepared by Eleni Koutsoukou. Correspondence should be addressed to him at the Hellenic Association of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology (HAOST), 20, A. Fleming str, 15123 Marousi, Athens, Greece.
