RESUMO
Nineteen patients had anterior shoulder pain [one of them had bilateral affection] were subjected to surgical decompression by a McLaughlin et al operative technique between April 1995 and June 1996. All patients were diagnosed clinically and investigated by X-ray and MRI. The results of clinical radiological and surgical findings were correlated and analyzed according to Knopp and Miller [1992]. MRI gave a high sensitivity [60-100%] specificity [60-80%] and diagnosing accuracy [90-100%] in diagnosing the exact pathological cause of impingement syndrome and its stage. All patients were followed up for a minimum of one year [mean 15.1 months]. The final outcome of the treatment was encouraging, 6 had excellent results, 9 had good results and 5 had unsatisfactory results. There were statistical significant difference between results of patients with or without partial tear of rotator muscles and those with complete tear