HOLMIUM-YAG LASER TREATMENT OF OUTLET IMP INGEMENT SYNDROME - MEDIUM-TERM RESULTS

Arthroscopic widening of the subacromial space in the case of outlet i mpingement syndrome has many advantages over the open procedures. Arth roscopic subacromial decompression in case of impingement syndrome if refractory to conservative therapy, is an established procedure. The p urpose of this study was to evaluate the results of arthroscopic subac romial decompression using the holmium:YAG laser and compare them with the results of the conventional arthroscopic procedure. In a prospect ive study, 47 patients with stage II and III impingement syndrome were divided into two groups. The first group (20 patients) underwent conv entional arthroscopic subacromial decompression. The second group (27 patients) underwent arthroscopic subacromial decompression performed w ith the holmium:YAG laser. The results were assessed using the constan t score preoperatively and postoperatively with a follow-up of at leas t 1 year for each patient. Improvement in the laser group was seen in the criteria of motion and pain, Abduction power, found to be improved after 1 week and 6 weeks in earlier investigations, showed no signifi cant improvement at the follow-up time of 1 year. The average score of both groups increased after 1 year: in the laser group from 57.4 preo peratively to 75.3, in the conventional group from 49.7 to 65.7. There were no specific complications due to the laser application.