Arthroscopic treatment of shoulder impingement in athletes

Twenty-nine patients (1 high school athlete, 9 college athletes, and 20 recreational or nonathletes) with Neer stage II impingement syndrome were treated by arthroscopic subacromial decompression after their injuries failed to improve with conservative therapy. Followup averaged 32.2 months, and results were rated based on subjective responses and the UCLA Shoulder Rating Scale. Of the results, 82.2% were rated as satisfactory, while 17.2% were unsatisfactory. The greatest margin of improvement was in the pain rating. Postoperatively, 65.5% of the patients returned to their previous level of activity and 56% of the collegiate athletes returned to their previous competitive level. The average time to return to college-level competitive athletics for the recreational or nonathletes was 6.6 months (average 5.4). There were no infections or neurovascular complications in the series.