Arthroscopic decompression for subacromial impingement syndrome

Arthroscopic decompression and cuff debridement was performed on 47 cases in 45 consecutive patients with either stage II or stage III impingement syndrome : 19 with no actual tear of the cuff(stage II); 13 with a partial thickness tear (stage IIIa); 10 with complete tear less than 3 cm long (stage IIIb); and 5 with complete tear longer than 3 cm(stage IIIc). Patients were classified into impingement syndrome without tear(Group I), impingement syndrome with partial thickness tear (Group II), and impingement syndrome with full thickness tear (Group III). Group I had 19 cases, group II had 13 cases, and group III had 15 cases. Patients were followed up for an average of 39.3 months (24-62 months). In group I, postoperative UCLA ratings improved in 18 cases (95%) to satisfactory result rate. In group II, 11 patients (85%) had improvement to satisfactory result rate. In group III, 12 cases (80%) had improvement to satisfactory result rate. The arthroscopic subacromial decompression and rotator cuff debridement was effective in the treatment of subacromial impingement syndrome.