Factors aff5cting outcomes of conservative management for pseudoparalysis of the shoulder

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze factors aff5cting the outcome of conservative management of pseudoparalysis of the shoulder. This study included 27 patients with pseudoparalysis of the shoulder, including 18 women and 9 men, with a mean age of 80.1 years. The type of cuff tear was massive tear in all the patients. All patients were treated conservatively for a mean duration of 3.9 months. Satisfactory results were achieved in 19 patients. Eight patients with unsatisfactory results eventually required surgery. The factors that caused nonresponse to treatment in 8 patients were compared with the contributing factors to treatment response in 19 patients. The factors were as follows: patient characteristics, degree of osteoarthritis change, and associated tear of the subscapularis tendon. All data were statistically analyzed. The identified factors that had a significant difference between the 2 groups were as follows: degree of osteoarthritis change and associated tear of the subscapularis tendon. Tear of the subscapularis tendon and changes in osteoarthritis were suggested to be factors that aff5cted the outcomes of conservative management. In the patients with osteoarthritis, satisfactory pain relief was difficult to attain. In patients with tears of the subscapularis tendon, decreased centripetal force due to collapse of the force couple was considered the cause of the poor outcomes. Surgical treatment should be considered positively for patients with factors that cause poor outcomes of conservative management of pseudoparalysis of the shoulder.