A study group composed of 11 shoulders in 10 patients underwent arthroscopic acromioplasty for impingement syndrome. There were no biceps tendon ruptures, acromioclavicular arthritis or glenohumeral instability. Eight men and two women ranging in age form 17 to 65 years (mean age 38.7) with dominant arm involvement in 9/10 were evaluated for an average follow-up of 15.4 months (range 12-22) postoperatively. Based on the University of California at Los Angeles shoulder rating scale, nine (82%) patients had satisfactory results and the remaining two(18%) had unsatisfactory results. Arthroscopy repeated in one patient demonstrated no further damage on the rotator cuff. The need for acromioplasty was well identified by the arthroscopic finding of the bursa.