Introduction. The purpose of this study was to assess the rate of revision subacromial decompression and identify different pathologies. Materials/Methods. We analysed the patients who underwent Revision Arthroscopic Subacromial decompression from our prospective database of shoulder patients. Between April 2003 and Dec 2010, 797 patients underwent arthroscopic subacromial decompression. Patients who underwent any other procedure i.e. biceps tenotomy, capsular release, cuff repair were excluded from the study. Of these, 37 underwent a revision subacromial decompression (Revision rate 4.6%). The indication for revision procedure was persistent pain or restricted movements not responding to physiotherapy and injections. Results. We found that 1) Patients having cuff pathology i.e. partial tear or degenerate cuff were more likely to need a revision procedure (11/37 and 92/797, p = 0.001). 2) The rate of ACJ excision done for residual pain after primary subacromial decompression was similar to the rate of ACJ excision at the time of the primary procedure (7/37 vs. 100/797, p= 0.5). 3) Presence of Calcific deposits did not have any influence on the risk of having a revision procedure (2/37 and 12/797, p= 0.1). 4) Patients found to have synovitis in the primary procedure were more likely to need revision procedure (10/37 and 81/797, p = 0.001). 5) Presence of biceps tendonitis did not significantly affect the risk of having a revision procedure after arthroscopic subacromial decompression (3 /37 and 21 /797, p = 0.5). Conclusion. Our revision rate is similar to those published in literature. In our failed cases there was a trend for patients to have an associated partial rotator cuff tear and synovitis

Purpose: We present the results of subacromial decompression and repair of the rotator cuff through a minimal deltoid-on approach. Material and Method: Eighty-seven patients with longstanding shoulder pain were evaluated in two years (1999–2000) in our department. In sixty -eight of them symptoms were due to impigment syndrome. Eight patients with follow up time less than six months were excluded from this study, twenty were treated conservatively and the remaining forty (22 female, 18 male, mean age 50.3) underwent surgery. Three x-ray views were obtained in all patients, i.e. standard AP, true AP, and subacromial space projection. MRI was also obtained in all patients. MRI revealed calcific tendinitis in fifteen patients, osteophytes of the acromioclavicular joint in thirteen, a hooked (type III) acromion in ten and partial tear of the supraspinatus tendon in nineteen. In five of them there was also a partial tear of the infraspinatus. Finally, seven patients were suffering of a full thickness tear of the supraspinatus tendon. All patients were operated through a minimal deltoid-on approach. Acromioplasty and coracoacromial ligament dissection was performed in all. In patients with osteoarthritis of the acromioclavicular joint, osteophytes were carefully removed. Calcific deposits were also removed in all patients. In eighteen patients tears of the rotator cuff were detected and repaired using bone anchors. Results: All patients were examined six months postoperatively. Results were evaluated with CONSTANT SCORE and with a questionnaire for patient’s satisfaction. Thirty-seven patients were very satisfied with the result and three were satisfied. As for Constant score, pain improved at an average of 7.8 points, daily activities by 5.4, and range of movement by 4.2 points. Results were evaluated by the examiner as excellent in thirty-six patients (90%) and very good in four patients. Conclusion: Deltoid-on approach, in patients with impingement syndrome of the shoulder provides adequate exposure for the surgical repair with minimal trauma and a very low rate of complications