Arthroscopic debridement of the shoulder for osteoarthritis

Twenty-five patients underwent arthroscopic debridement to treat early glen ohumeral osteoarthritis. The group consisted of 19 men and 6 women with an average age of 46 years (range, 27 to 72 years.) The operative procedure co nsisted of lavage of the glenohumeral joint, debridement of labral tears an d chondral lesions, loose body removal, and partial synovectomy and subacro mial bursectomy. Follow-up averaged 34 months, with a range of 12 to 63 mon ths. Overall, results were rated as excellent in 2 patients (8%), good in 1 9 patients (72%), and unsatisfactory in 5 (20%). Two patients had complete relief of pain, 18 patients had only occasional mild pain, and 5 had modera te to severe pain postoperatively. Of the 12 patients with marked preoperat ive stiffness, 10 (83%) had improvement in range of motion postoperatively. Arthroscopic debridement is a reasonable approach for treating early gleno humeral osteoarthritis that has failed to respond to nonoperative treatment , in which the humeral head and glenoid remain concentric, and where there is still a visible joint space on an axillary radiograph. The procedure is not recommended when there is severe joint incongruity or large osteophytes .