Article

OBJECTIVE: Measure changes in pain and disability of primary care shoulder pain
patients over a 12-month period. DESIGN: A non-randomized audit with repeated
measures of pain and disability at 3 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months. PATIENTS: Of 208
patients, 161 agreed to participate with 96.9%, 98.1%, 86.3%, 83.9% follow-up at
3 weeks, at 3, 6 and 12 months, respectively. Mean age was 44 years, mean symptom
duration 3.6 months.
METHODS: PATIENTS were treated with protocol driven
corticosteroid injection and community based care. Primary outcome measure was
the Shoulder Pain and Disability index (SPADI) questionnaire. Based on the SPADI
and minimal clinically important difference (MCID), outcomes were categorized
into: total recovery, 90% or more improved, better, unchanged and worse. RESULTS:
There was significant reduction of pain and disability at 3 weeks (p < 0.001), no
change at the 3- and 6-month follow-up and a significant reduction at the
12-month follow-up (p < 0.001). Excellent outcomes were achieved by 32.9% and
45.3%, and a poor clinical outcome resulted for 32.8% and 14.9% at the 3- and
12-month follow-up, respectively. CONCLUSION: Though there was significant
improvement at the 3-week and 12-month follow-up, 45% achieved an excellent
outcome and a 16.7% of patients were the same or worse than baseline at 12
months.

Langue : ANGLAIS