Effects of conservative therapy applied before arthroscopic subacromial decompression on the clinical outcome in patients with stage 2 shoulder impingement syndrome.

BACKGROUND/AIM To investigate the effects of conservative therapy applied before arthroscopic subacromial decompression on the clinical outcome in patients with stage 2 shoulder impingement syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sixty-eight patients having stage 2 shoulder impingement syndrome and treated with arthroscopic subacromial decompression were included in the study. We divided these patients into 2 groups, whereby 32 (47%) patients received conservative therapy before arthroscopic subacromial decompression and 36 (53%) patients did not receive conservative therapy. We compared both groups in terms of the the Constant, UCLA, and VAS scores for shoulder pain before and after arthroscopic subacromial decompression. RESULTS Constant, UCLA, and VAS scores were statistically significantly improved in both groups after arthroscopic subacromial decompression (P <0.001). Constant, UCLA, and VAS scores before arthroscopic subacromial decompression were statistically better in Group 1 than in Group 2 (P < 0.001). No statistically significant difference was found between the groups in terms of Constant, UCLA, and VAS scores after arthroscopic subacromial decompression (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION Conservative therapy applied in patients with stage 2 shoulder impingement syndrome before arthroscopic subacromial decompression does not have a positive contribution on the clinical outcome after arthroscopic subacromial decompression.