The purpose of this study was to evaluate the management of refractory frozen shoulder using arthroscopic capsular release. This report concerns the 19 cases of failed nonoperative treatment that subsequently were treated by arthroscopic capsular release from 1999 to 2005. There were 9 men and 10 women, the mean ages was 55.2 years (range 45-68 years). Ten patients had primary frozen shoulder, and 9 patients had secondary frozen shoulder (4 rotator cuff pathology, 5 diabetes mellitus). Follow-up averaged 8.6 months (range 5-23 months). Each case was evaluated according to the ROM of shoulder (flexion, external rotation and internal rotation) and the shoulder score of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA score).
The results of this study showed that the ROM of shoulder improved from a preoperative mean of 90 degrees flexion, 16 degrees external rotation to a postoperative mean of 165 degrees flexion, 43 degrees external rotation. The JOA score improved from a preoperative mean of 50.4 points to a postoperative mean of 84.7 points (p<0.01). None of the patients had any complication or recurrence of shoulder stiffness.
We found that arthroscopic capusular release was a safe and effective tool in the management in these cases of refractory frozen shoulder.
