The purpose of this study was to clarify the surgical outcome and the complication of the painful throwing shoulders with the use of thermal capsular shrinkage (TCS). We retrospectively studied 15 throwing athletes ranging from 17 to 31 years of age (average,21.1 years old). Thirteen baseball, a softball and a volleyball player were included. The mean follow-up was 17 months (range 12-34 months) after surgery. Arthroscopically, SLAP lesions were recognized in 7 cases and posterosuperior labral injuries in 7 cases. In these cases, internal impingement was revealed in 6 cases. Electrothermal capsular shrinkage was performed in all cases (anterior 9 cases, posterior 5 cases and both in one case). Arthroscopic debridement of the torn and detached labrum was performed in 14 cases, arthroscopic debridement for the articular-side partial rotator cuff tear was performed in 7 cases, arthroscopic repair of anterosuperior labrum was in 2 cases. We evaluated the throwing pain and the function with the shoulder sports score of Japan Shoulder Society (sports score). Thirteen of fifteen cases (86.7%) returned to their preoperative sports level from 4 to 12 months (average 7.3 months). The average pain score at preoperation was 3.3 points and the function score was 6.3 points. At the time of the last investigation, the pain score was 21.7 points and the function score was 27.7 points. We had a complication of TCS with the anterior capsular perforation in one case. The surgical outcome for throwing athletes with the use of TCS were satisfactory, but it was necessary to take care of the complication of capsular perforation.
