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 approximately 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.