Prevalence of Shoulder pathologies in Cairo and Qalubiya, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Pathological conditions of the Shoulder joint are very common as the shoulder is the most freely movable joint in the body (and hence the most unstable). These conditions can lead to pain and disability that affect individuals socially and economically. Purpose: This study was conducted to identify the prevalence and characteristics of shoulder pathologies in two main hospitals in two Egyptian governorates as up to researchers’ knowledge, no previous epidemiological studies of shoulder conditions attending orthopedic physical therapy outpatient clinics have been carried out in Egypt, so the current study provides valuable information about diseases’ burden for researchers and healthcare policy makers, thus assisting in disease prevention , identifying health economic models and establishing guidelines. Methodology: A hospital- based record study was made for 1633 patients, 101 patients of them were suffering from shoulder pathologies, data were collected from patients’ referral records to orthopedic physical therapy outpatient clinics in two hospitals (Kasr Aini educational hospital) (KA) in Cairo and (Benha educational hospital) in Qalubiya – Egypt, that are reviewed from the first of January 2019 to 31 December 2019. Demographic characteristics including (gender, affected side) and different types of pathologies were described.