A study group composed of 11 shoulders in 10 patients underwent arthroscopic subacromial decompression for impingement syndrome. There were no biceps tendon ruptures, acromioclavicular arthritis or glenohumeral instability. Eight men and two women ranging in age from 17 to 65 years (mean age 38.7) with dominant arm involvement in 9/10 were evaluated for an average follow-up of 19.4 months (range 12-26) postoperatively. Based on the University of California at Los Angeles shoulder rating scale, nine (82%) shoulders had satisfactory results and the remaining two (18%) had unsatisfactory results. This is a preliminary report of our early experience in this rather new method of treatment, but the results are encouragingly good.