An Assessment of Functional Outcomes and Prognostic Measures Following the Management of Shoulder Dislocations at a Tertiary Care Hospital in the United Kingdom

Abstract

Background and objective Shoulder dislocations account for around half of all major joint dislocations in the UK and pose a significant healthcare burden. Management decisions post-reduction procedures involve a range of options, including conservative measures, surgery, and physiotherapy. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), such as the Oxford Shoulder Instability Score (OSIS) and Simple Shoulder Test (SST), have emerged as crucial tools for evaluating treatment outcomes, reflecting a shift towards patient-centred care. This study aimed to evaluate trends related to prognostic factors versus PROMs following the management of shoulder dislocations at a tertiary care centre. Methods An observational, retrospective cohort study was conducted at Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, involving 70 patients with shoulder instability. Patient demographics, management strategies, and outcomes were evaluated using PROMs, focusing on functional disability assessed by OSIS and SST. Prognostic factors, including age, recurrence, and physiotherapy, were examined to understand their impact on treatment efficacy. Results The study included a diverse patient demographic, with both OSIS and SST scores showing a downward trend with increasing age. Physiotherapy correlated with improved SST scores, emphasising its role in rehabilitation. Limited physiotherapy availability and variations in patient-reported data posed challenges in assessing the cohort-wide impact of treatment. Conclusions The observed correlation between functional outcomes and patient perceptions underscores the intricate relationship between physical function and subjective experiences, contributing to the nuanced understanding of shoulder dislocation management.