Impingement Syndrome, Surgery for (Subacromial Decompression)

Indications: who needs surgery, when and why, and goals

Surgery for rotator cuff tendinitis, subacromial bursitis, or impingement is reserved for people who have continued shoulder pain that affects activities of daily living or sports activities despite completing an appropriate rehabilitation program of at least 3 months duration. People with an acromion (roof of the shoulder) that has a curve, hook, or spur and those with partial thickness rotator cuff tears are most likely to benefit from this surgery. The goal of surgery is to eliminate the shoulder pain by removing the thickened and chronically inflamed bursa; removing the curve, hook, or spur from the acromion; and cutting the coracoacromial ligament to increase the space under the acromion so that the rotator cuff is less likely to be pinched between the acromion and humeral head.

Contraindications: reasons not to operate

• Infection of the shoulder

• Inability or unwillingness of the patient to complete the postoperative program of keeping the shoulder in a sling or immobilizer (if surgery was open) or to perform the rehabilitation necessary

• Patients who have emotional or psychological problems that contribute to their shoulder condition

• Patients who have rotator cuff inflammation from other causes, such as impingement caused by shoulder instability, weak muscles of the shoulder blade (scapula), shoulder arthritis, stiff or frozen shoulder, or a large os acromionale

Risks and complications of surgery

• Infection

• Bleeding

• Injury to nerves (numbness, weakness, paralysis) of the shoulder and arm

• Continued or recurrent pain

< div class='tao-gold-member'>

Only gold members can continue reading. Log In or Register to continue

Share this:

• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related

Related posts:

Birth Control and Sports Biceps Tendon Subluxation Exercise-Induced Bronchospasm Dislocation or Subluxation Proximal Tibiofibular Joint Dislocation Subtalar Dislocation

Stay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel

Join

Full access? Get Clinical Tree