ARTHROSCOPIC ACROMIOPLASTY IN THE TREATMENT OF SUBACROMIAL IMPINGEMENT SYNDROME

Abstract

Introduction: Arthroscopic acromioplasty has become a safety and effective procedure in the treatment of subacrominal impingement syndrome that is resistant to conservative modalities. The purpose in this study was to evaluate the functional results of selected patients to who were treated with arthroscopic acromioplasty. Material and
Methods: We performed arthroscopic acromioplasty in 68 patients between October 1998 and June 2001. We included 24 patients in this study who did not have rotator cuff tear, and who did not have secondary impingement syndrome. The average age of the patients were 49.3 years (35-72 years). 15 patients were female, and 9 were male. There were 4 left shoulder and 20 right shoulder involvement. Physical examination revealed 85 degrees forward elevation, 20 degrees external rotation in adduction, internal rotational gluteal in 12 patients, at L5 level in 5 patients, at L3 level in 9 patients, at T12 level in 3 patients. The average UCLA score was 14 (10-17) and average Constant score was 48 (34-57).
Results: The average follow-up period was 26 months (12-44 months). All the patients were pain–free, except with minimal pain after repetitive activities. The last examinations revealed average UCLA score of 31 (29-35) and constant score of 90 (75-98). The average post-operative forward flexion was 139 degrees, external rotation in adduction was 35 degrees, internal rotation was at L3 level in 12 patients, at T12 level in 5 patients, and at T8 level in 7 patients.
Conclusion: Arthroscopic acromioplasty has advantages of providing small scar tissue, earlier range of motion and returning to activity of daily living, and evaluation of additional intra-articular pathologies. We believe, with proper patient selection and concise technical performance, satisfactory and successful result can be obtained.