Our aim is to evaluate life quality in patients with achondroplasia after lengthening.

We examined 17 patients (11 men and 6 women) who finished the complete lengthening process in the 3 segments (tibia, femur, humerus) more than 3 years ago. Mean age 30.35 years(17–44). And a final height of 152.3cm (140.4–169) with an increase in the size of the tibia of 15.38cm, femur 14.91cm and humerus 9.91cm

Life quality is assessed by the SF.36 test and a specific questionnaire for low size people.

The results show that the mental health component (52.2) and physical component (52.8) are similar to those of general American population. There is also a statistical correlation between the final height and better results on the Mental Health questions of SF.36 (p=0.013) and the psychological questions of the specific questionnaire (p=0.045).

Achondroplasic patients after lengthening have a standard life quality and the increase of their height improves the mental health aspects of life quality.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine how changes in functional shoulder score (Constant Score) affected the values of the SF-36 score, to determine the amount of functional score change to be considered relevant.

Material and Method: 427 patients were included. All of them were assessed with a functional shoulder score (Constant Score) and fulfilled SF-36 score. Mean age was of 50,61(18–85), 200 of them were male and 227 female. 280 were considered to be active while 147 were retired as far as working status is concerned. There were 191 patients with university studies and 236 with primary studies. Primary diagnosis was cuff disorders in 265 patients, old-fracture in 43, degenerative in 72 and instability in 34. Correlations were performed with Spearman’s rho and regression models were evaluated

Results: There was a moderate but significant correlation between the total Constant Score and PF_NORM (0,511) and US standardized physical component (US STPH) (0,491) of the SF-36. For every point of increase in the Constant score the SF-36 increases 0,235 points. Looking into the different items of the Constant Score, Activities of daily living (ADL) and strength presented the stronger correlation with SF-36 (0,428, 0,411). In the regression model, every point of increase of pain, ADL, forward elevation, external rotation and internal rotation means an increase of 0,472, 0,39, 0,84, 0,82 and 0,86 of the US STPH of the SF-36.

Conclusions: Whenever the outcome of any shoulder treatment is analyzed it has to be taken into account that for every point of increase of the Total Constant Score just 0,235 points of the US SPTH of the SF-36 increase. Depending on the mean value of the US SPTH of the SF-36 of the population studied, the relevant increase of Constant Score can be calculated.

Mobility improvements seem to have more influence that pain changes as far as increasing the US SPTH of the SF-36 is concerned.

Purpose: Some of nowadays treatments in shoulder pathology are focused in pain drop, but is to be evidenced than pain is the most reliable item in shoulder patient’s quality of life. The purpose of this study is to analyze quality of life in patients affected of different shoulder pathologies and check how pain and movement influence quality of life perception (QLP).

Material And Methods: 134 patients correctly filled the shoulder functional Constant score and the SF-36 score. Patients were classified by age, sex, labor status, level of education and diagnosis. There were 56 men (41,79%) and 78 women (58,21%). Mean age was 53,77 (18–85). Amongst them, 74 patients were classified as subacromial syndrome, 19 as fractures, 29 degenerative pathology and 12 as shoulder instability. Student’s T test was performed to study quantitative variables. Qualitive variables were studied using ANOVA test. Impact of pain and mobility on patients’ quality of life was assessed by Rho-Spearman’s test. Statistical regression coefficient was used to evaluate the impact of pain and mobility in perceived quality of life.

Results: There were statistically significant differences amongst age, sex and diagnosis groups (p< 0,001). Patients older than 65 years old significatively (p< 0.001) perceived worst quality of life. Women and patients affected by a degenerative disorder significatively perceived worst quality of life (p< 0.001). A relationship between movement and quality of life was founded (linear trend). In patients with preserved range of motion, changes in pain perception significatively affected PQL (p< 0,001), meanwhile patients with poor range of motion, changes in pain perception did not affect PQL (p> 0,001). The regression coefficient for pain related to SF-36 Physical component scale was 0,629 (IC: 0,301–0.958), meanwhile the regression coefficient for external rotation is 1,196 (IC: 0,693–1,699), giving thus a predominant effect of extenal rotation in PQL.

Conclusion/Discussion: Age, sex and etiology of shoulder disorder determine different perceptions of quality of life independently of the shoulder functional scoring.

Range of motion significatively affect QLP independently of the level of pain. Pain affects QLP in patients whom range of motion is preserved. External rotation is the most important item affecting QLP.

Factors determining quality of life perception should be taken into account when planning surgery strategies for different shoulder disorders.