Deficits in shoulder function and general health associated with sixteen common shoulder diagnoses: a study of 2674 patients.

The purpose of this study is to define the self-assessed deficits in function and general health perceived by a large cohort of patients with common shoulder diagnoses. For a 10-year period, all new shoulder patients presenting to the senior author were characterized by diagnosis, age, gender, and self-assessed shoulder function and general health status. This report concerns the 2674 patients having 1 of the 16 most prevalent diagnoses. The deficits in shoulder function and health status were correlated with diagnosis, age, and gender, as well as with each other. Patient self-assessment provided a standardized method for collecting data on shoulder function and health status. These assessments revealed substantial deficits; for example, 81% of patients were unable to sleep on the affected side, and 71% were unable to wash the back of the opposite shoulder. The magnitude of these deficits correlated significantly with gender and diagnosis but not with age.