Background
Shoulder impingement syndrome and acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) osteoarthritis often occur simultaneously and are easily missed. Arthroscopic resection of the distal clavicle and subacromial decompression (SAD) can avoid complications arising from the open method.
Patients and methods
In this prospective study, arthroscopic SAD as well as ACJ resection was done in 15 patients with subacromial impingement syndrome and ACJ arthritis, who were treated between March 2009 and April 2013 at Minia University Hospital after failure of a minimum of 6 months of conservative treatment. The patients were followed up for 12 months.
Results
University of California at Los Angeles score is recorded preoperatively and at final follow-up 12 months after arthroscopic SAD concomitant with arthroscopic ACJ resection. The patients’ total University of California at Los Angeles score was significantly improved postoperatively (<0.01) in relation to the preoperative one.
Conclusion
Arthroscopic SAD and ACJ resection gives best results in patients who failed conservative treatment and had persistent symptoms, and it helps in detection of any intra-articular pathology such as biceps tendon degeneration.