Arthroscopic subacromial decompression: responsiveness of disease-specific and health-related quality of life outcome measures

Twenty-eight patients who presented with stage II or early stage III impingement syndrome were evaluated before and after decompression surgery to examine the sensitivity and responsiveness of health-related quality of life and disease-specific measures. The outcome instruments used included the Medical Outcomes Study SF36 health survey; the Constant-Murley shoulder scoring system (CM), the University of California at Los Angeles shoulder rating scale (UCLA) and visual analogue scales (VAS) for pain. Preoperative and short-term postoperative evaluations showed significant improvements in all outcome instruments, including pain and physical role dimensions of the SF36. However, the UCLA and VAS pain scores were confirmed as the most responsive and sensitive measures to short-term change following arthroscopic decompression.