Publication:

Prevalence of shoulder disorders in tertiary care centre

Background Shoulder pain is the third most common musculoskeletal condition has a lifetime prevalence of up to 70% and this seems to be increasing in incidence. The diagnosis of these disorders is based primarily upon results of clinical tests. The prevalence of shoulder pain in India has not been reported. The aim of present study is to study and report the prevalence of various disorders causing shoulder pain in patients reporting to a tertiary care hospital in North India.

Methods This is a prospective hospital based cross-sectional study carried in a tertiary care hospital and 130 patients satisfying inclusion criteria over a period of two year were included.

Results Age of patients ranged between 23-69 years (51.36 ± 11.86 years). A predominance of females was observed (Male-Female ratio: 0.81:1). The commonest cause of pain was periarthritis shoulder (43.1%), subacromial (SA) impingement (13.8%), acute rotator cuff injury (13.1%), GH arthritis (10.0%) and AC Arthritis (8.5%). The major risk factors were diabetes mellitus, excessive overhead lifting and trauma.

Conclusion Periarthritis and subacromial pain syndrome are two most common diagnoses reporting to a tertiary care centre. Periarthritis is the commonest diagnosis in both genders. AC arthritis is more common in females (P <0.001) and rotator cuff injury is more in males (P <0.001). Periarthritis, GH arthritis and AC arthritis is much more common in fifth and sixth decades and rotator cuff injury is seen in young adults.