Acromioplasty for impingement with an intact rotator cuff. x

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Hawkins RJ. Brock RM. Abrams JS. Hobeika P. x Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery - British Volume. 70(5):795-7, 1988 Nov. x This is a retrospective review of 108 patients who underwent decompressive x anterior acromioplasty for chronic impingement in the absence of a full x thickness rotator cuff tear. Before operation, all the patients had had x shoulder pain for at least one year despite conservative treatment. At x operation, the rotator cuff tendons were explored and were intact. x Anterior acromioplasty, followed by rehabilitation was successful in 87% x of patients. The operation was less successful in women, in those who had x diminished movement before operation, who were involved in worker's x compensation claims, and whose pain followed direct trauma. Appropriate x selection of patients is considered the key to success. x