Atraumatic shoulder instability: patient characteristics, comorbidities, and disability

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Psychology

Background:

• Atraumatic shoulder instability is influenced by various factors, including age, sex, smoking, and workers' compensation.
• Physical factors like acute or chronic pain and psychological comorbidities such as depression are prevalent in shoulder conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between sociodemographic factors, pain, psychological comorbidities, and functional outcomes in patients with atraumatic shoulder instability.
• To identify key predictors of disability in this patient population.

Main Methods:

• Recruited patients with atraumatic shoulder instability from outpatient and inpatient records.
• Assessed pain using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), disability with Disability of the Arm and Hand (DASH) score and Stanmore Percentage of Normal Shoulder Assessment (SPONSA).
• Evaluated depression using Beck's Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) and other psychological assessments.

Main Results:

• Chronic shoulder pain was significantly related to disability.
• A significant association was found between the DASH score and BDI-II score.
• Chronic pain and depression were identified as independent predictors of disability.

Conclusions:

• Sociodemographic factors, pain, and psychological comorbidities negatively impact functional outcomes in atraumatic shoulder instability.
• Emphasizes the need for a multidisciplinary, holistic approach, focusing on chronic pain management and psychological support.