Extract
Question: In patients who have shoulder pain with subacromial
impingement, is arthroscopic subacromial decompression more effective than
graded physiotherapy?Design: Randomized (allocation
concealed)*,
unblinded, controlled trial with 1-year follow-up.*Information provided by author.Setting: A hospital in Ringkjoebing County, Denmark.Patients: Studied were 90 patients who were from 18 to 55 years of
age; had had symptoms for 6 months to 3 years; and met the following
diagnostic criteria: presence of shoulder pain, pain on abduction of the
shoulder with painful arch, a positive impingement sign (Hawkins sign), and a
positive impingement test (relief of pain after injection of local anesthetic
into the subacromial space). Follow-up was 93% (mean age, 44 y; 69%
women).