NON-TUBERCULOUS SHOULDER DISABILITIES IN SANATORIUM PATIENTS

Limitation of shoulder movement and/or shoulder pain occurs among patients chronically ill with conditions not related to bones and joints. Thirty patients with 45 disabled shoulders among persons with pulmonary tuberculosis were studied. The condition occurred most frequently in men beyond the age of 38 years. The shoulder involvement was not related to the location or severity of the underlying lung disease. Before the onset of their illness, most of these patients were very active and had well-developed shoulder muscles. The relative inactivity of hospital life may be a causative factor. The condition is reversible with physiotherapy and corticosteroids; 58% in this series recovered completely and 33% improved. Four progressed to a shoulderhand syndrome. Prophylactic shoulder exercises may be effective.