Arthroscopic lavage speeds reduction in effusion in the glenohumeral jointafter primary anterior shoulder dislocation: a controlled randomized ultrasound study

Recent studies have shown that arthroscopic lavage of the glenohumeral join t within 10 days following a primary anterior dislocation significantly low ers the recurrence rate when compared with a nonoperative regime. We hypoth esize that the lavage reduces distension in the joint and thereby facilitat es adaptation and healing of the soft tissue lesion. Using ultrasound, we a ssessed the hemarthrosis in the glenohumeral joint weekly in 16 consecutive patients after traumatic primary anterior shoulder dislocation. The patien ts were randomized into two groups for treatment with either arthroscopic l avage or a non-lavage the two groups followed an identical rehabilitation p rogram. Transversal dorsal ultrasound of the glenohumeral joint was perform ed, in which the joint effusion was assessed as the distance between the hu meral head and the glenoid. Prior to the lavage the two groups had a simila r amount of excessive joint effusion. The effusion declined to a steady sta te level within 3-7 weeks. The joint effusion decreased more rapidly (33%) in the group treated with arthroscopic lavage (P = 0.02) than in the nonope rated group.