We report the results of arthroscopic subacromial decompression and debridement of the rotator cuff for chronic small- and medium-sized tears in 114 patients (118 shoulders) between two and five years after surgery. The mean Constant score was improved to 69.8, and 88 shoulders (74.6%) had a satisfactory outcome. Of patients under the age of 60 years the outcome was satisfactory in 59.3%, and in those over 60 years, in 87.5% (p < 0.001). An unsatisfactory outcome was related to manual work (p < 0.001) and a duration of symptoms of more than 12 months (p < 0.05). The outcome was not related to the size of the tear, the muscles involved or biceps pathology. Further surgery was required in 25 patients after a mean of 13.7 months (3 to 35); ten tears had progressed in size, but none became irreparable. There was no relationship between the increase in the size of the tear and its initial size, the muscles involved or the presence of biceps pathology. No tear became smaller with time

We describe the mid-term clinical results of the surgical treatment of primary degenerative arthritis of the sternoclavicular joint in eight women. They had not responded to conservative treatment and underwent a limited resection arthroplasty. For pre-and postoperative clinical evaluation we used the Rockwood score for the sternoclavicular joint. Postoperatively, the Constant score was also determined. The mean follow-up was 31 months (10 to 82). The median Rockwood score increased from 6 to 12.5 points. The median postoperative Constant score was 87 (65 to 91). Four patients had an excellent, three a good, and one a poor result. All patients were pleased with the cosmetic result. Resection arthroplasty is an effective and safe treatment for chronic, symptomatic degenerative arthritis of the sternoclavicular joint with a high degree of patient satisfaction

We carried out a prospective study of 93 patients undergoing surgery for conditions of the rotator cuff during 1994 and 1995. They were assessed before operation and after six months, and four years, using the patient-based Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS), the SF-36 questionnaire and the Constant shoulder score. The response rates were higher for the OSS and SF-36. The correlation coefficients were high (r > 0.5) between all scores at each stage of the study. While all scores improved substantially at six months, the Constant score was reduced significantly at four years. This did not correlate with the patients’ judgement of the change in symptoms or of the success of the operation. Our study suggests that patient-based measures of pain and function can reliably assess outcomes in the medium term after surgery to the shoulder

We have performed a controlled, randomised study to analyse the effects of low-energy shock-wave therapy (ESWT) on function and pain in tendinitis of the supraspinatus without calcification. There were 20 patients in the treatment group and 20 in the control group. The former group received 6000 impulses (energy flux density, 0.11 mJ/mm. 2. ) in three sessions after local anaesthesia. The control group had 6000 impulses of sham ESWT after local anaesthesia. The patients were examined at six and 12 weeks after treatment by an independent observer who evaluated the Constant score and level of pain. We found an increase in function and a reduction of pain in both groups (p ≤ 0.001). Statistical analysis showed no difference between the groups for the Constant score and for pain. We therefore do not recommend ESWT for the treatment of tendinitis of supraspinatus

Cementless surface replacement arthroplasty of the shoulder is designed to replace the damaged joint surfaces and restore normal anatomy with minimal resection of bone. We have used the Copeland shoulder arthroplasty for 14 years. Between 1986 and 2000, 285 surface replacement arthroplasties were implanted in our unit. The prosthesis has evolved during this time, but the principle of minimal bone resection has remained the same. Between 1990 and 1994, 103 Mark-2 prostheses were inserted into 94 patients (9 bilateral). The operations were carried out for the treatment of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, avascular necrosis, instability arthropathy, post-traumatic arthropathy and cuff arthropathy. The mean follow-up was for 6.8 years (5 to 10). The best results were achieved in primary osteoarthritis, with Constant scores of 93.7% for total shoulder replacement and 73.5% for hemiarthroplasty. The poorest results were seen in patients with cuff arthropathy and post-traumatic arthropathy with adjusted Constant scores of 61.3% and 62.7%, respectively. Most patients (93.9%) considered their shoulder to be much better or better than before the operation. Of the 88 humeral implants available for radiological review, 61 (69.3%) showed no evidence of radiolucency, nor did 21 (35.6%) of the 59 glenoid prostheses. Three were definitely loose, and eight shoulders required revision (7.7%), two (1.9%) for primary loosening. The results of this series are comparable with those for stemmed prostheses with a similar follow-up and case mix. The cementless surface replacement arthroplasty diminishes the risk of complications involving the humeral shaft and periprosthetic fractures. Revision or arthrodesis can be undertaken easily since the bone stock has been maintained with no loss of length

We developed a 12-item questionnaire for completion by patients having shoulder operations other than stabilisation. A prospective study of 111 patients was undertaken before operation and at follow-up six months later. Each patient completed the new questionnaire and the SF36 form. Some filled in the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). An orthopaedic surgeon assessed the Constant shoulder score. The single score derived from the questionnaire had a high internal consistency. Reproducibility, examined by test-retest reliability, was found to be satisfactory. The validity of the questionnaire was established by obtaining significant correlations in the expected direction with the Constant score and the relevant scales of the SF36 and the HAQ. Sensitivity to change was assessed by analysing the differences between the preoperative scores and those at follow-up. Changes in scores were compared with the patients’ responses to postoperative questions about their condition. The standardised effect size for the new questionnaire compared favourably with that for the SF36 and the HAQ. The new questionnaire was the most efficient in distinguishing patients who said that their shoulder was much better from all other patients. The shoulder questionnaire provides a measure of outcome for shoulder operations which is short, practical, reliable, valid and sensitive to clinically important changes