The purpose of the present study was to investigate the intraarticular changes of the frozen shoulder as compared with those of the rotator cuff tears. Eight patients (nine shoulders) aged 43 to 75,4 males and 4females, were examined.
Arthroscopic observations were performed through a posterior portal under general anesthesia, followed by biopsies around the opening of the subscapularis bursa. Similar procedures were followed prior to the cuff repairs of 10 shoulders aged 41 to 65. Premanipulation diagnostic arthroscopy showed the humeral head to be tightly held againet the glenoid fossa in all the patients with frozen shoulder.
Vascular congestion existed in most cases around the opening of the subscapularis bursa, while the destructive changes were not recognized in any shoulder. Histologically, there was minimal synovial proliferation or infiltration of inflammatory cells, but proliferation of blood vessels was evident.
