LAUSR

BACKGROUND Some patients who have shoulder surgery on one shoulder go on to have surgery on their contralateral shoulder. It is unclear if the clinical improvements following the second surgery are as significant as the improvements following the first surgery METHODS: All patients who underwent surgery on both shoulders by a single surgeon between March 2013-June 2018 were eligible for inclusion. VAS scores were obtained preoperatively and at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years for both shoulders. Scores were then compared based on hand dominance and which shoulder was done first. Complications were also recorded RESULTS: Overall, 105 patients (210 surgeries) were included. 66 patients underwent bilateral open shoulder surgery and 39 underwent bilateral arthroscopic shoulder surgery. There was a significant reduction in VAS from preoperative to postoperative levels following surgery (5.9 pre to 1.7 post-surgery). There was no difference in VAS scores at any time point when comparing whether the dominant or non-dominant shoulder was operated on first. There was a significantly higher VAS score at 2 weeks, 6 weeks and 3 months following the first shoulder surgery compared to the second; by 6 months and beyond there was no longer a difference. CONCLUSION Patients who have bilateral shoulder surgery have more pain in the first 3 months following their first shoulder surgery compared to their second. However, there is no difference in pain score at 6 months and beyond between shoulders.