Search Results (5)

An arthroscopic capsular release (ACR) is used for persistent shoulder stiffness after an index surgery. No cases of post-ACR humeral head osteonecrosis have been reported to date. A 56-year-old male patient underwent open reduction and internal fixation using a hook plate for acromioclavicular joint dislocation. Despite hardware removal, the patient presented with unresolved shoulder pain and range-of-motion (ROM) limitations. He had a history of hypertension, chronic hepatitis B infection, and alcohol consumption. His preoperative ROM was 90° for active forward flexion, 90° for abduction, 40° for external rotation, and at a sacral level for internal rotation. His preoperative functional status was a visual analog scale (VAS) score of 4, an American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score of 51, and a Constant–Murley (CMS) score of 48 through normal radiography and magnetic resonance imaging. A standard ACR was performed with a 360° release of the joint capsule via electrocautery ablation. Six months post-ACR, his ROM (forward flexion: 135°; abduction: 135°; external rotation: 70°; internal rotation: T10 vertebra) and functional outcomes (VAS 2; ASES 79; CMS 75) were significantly improved, without an interval change in radiographic assessment. However, 15 months post-operation, the patient experienced a recurrence of shoulder pain and subsequently underwent triamcinolone injections in both the 15th and 21st postoperative months. Radiography revealed humeral head osteonecrosis. Patients with intrinsic or extrinsic risk factors related to humeral head circulation disturbance should be monitored for humeral head osteonecrosis post-ACR. Full article

Purpose: One-stage arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with manipulation has been recently performed for rotator cuff tears with shoulder stiffness, whereas some patients require capsular release due to severe stiffness that is difficult to treat with manipulation. The purpose of this study was to analyze patient backgrounds and related factors of success or failure of manipulation alone for the treatment of shoulder stiffness associated with rotator cuff tears. Methods: This study included 64 patients with rotator cuff tears and shoulder stiffness who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with manipulation alone or with manipulation and capsular release of the glenohumeral joint at our institution between January 2015 and September 2019. The patients were divided into two groups: those whose shoulder stiffness could be improved by manipulation alone (Manipulation group) and those whose stiffness could not be improved by manipulation alone and required capsular release (Capsular release addition group). Analysis was performed between the two groups regarding patient backgrounds and related factors, including rotator cuff tear morphology and range of motions pre- and postoperatively. Results: Exactly 45 patients and 19 patients were included in Manipulation group and Capsular release addition group, respectively. A comparison between the two groups showed that patient age (p = 0.0040), sex (p = 0.0005), and injury due to trauma (p = 0.0018) were significantly related to the success or failure of manipulation alone. Multivariate logistic regression analysis on these three factors showed that sex (odds ratio, 5.5; p = 0.048) was significantly associated with the success or failure of manipulation alone. In both groups, the passive ROM of all patients improved at the last postoperative follow-up compared to their pre-operative values (p < 0.001), except for internal rotation in the Capsular release addition group (p = 0.49). Conclusion: Young male patients who have shoulder stiffness associated with rotator cuff tears should be considered for arthroscopic capsular release rather than manipulation. Full article

Arthroscopic capsular release allows direct visualization and release of inflamed tissues in refractory frozen shoulder. The reticular neural network in the long head of the biceps tendon (LHBT) and nerve endings of the transverse humeral ligament (THL) might be responsible for shoulder pain. We hypothesized that patients with painful refractory frozen shoulder benefited from pan-capsular release, THL release, and LHBT tenodesis. The LHBT tenodesis decreased the possibility of LHBT instability. The balance of the shoulder joint was maintained after such extensive release. From October 2013 to June 2019, patients with painful refractory frozen shoulder were enrolled consecutively at the same institute. All patients received arthroscopic pan-capsular, THL release, and suprapectoral LHBT tenodesis with a minimum of 2-year follow-up. Preoperative and postoperative shoulder range of motion (ROM), pain visual analog scale (PVAS), subjective shoulder value (SSV), constant score, LHBT score, acromio-humeral distance (AHD), and critical shoulder angle (CSA) were recorded. In total, 35 patients with an average age of 53.1 ± 9 years were enrolled. The average follow-up period was 24 ± 1.5 months. Forward elevation improved from 105.1° ± 17° to 147° ± 12° (p < 0.001), external rotation improved from 24.1° ± 13.3° to 50.9° ± 9.7° (p < 0.001), and internal rotation improved from L3 to T9 (p < 0.001), respectively, at final follow-up. PVAS improved from 7.3 ± 1.1 to 1.8 ± 0.6 (p < 0.001), constant score from 23.4 ± 11 to 80.7 ± 5.2 (p < 0.001), and SSV from 27.7 ± 10.5 to 77.4 ± 3.8, respectively, at follow-up. No differences were found in AHD and CSA after surgery (p = 0.316, and p = 0.895, respectively). Patients with painful refractory frozen shoulder benefited from pan-capsular and THL release. A radiographically balanced shoulder joint was maintained even after such extensive release. Full article

We investigated the complications and frequency of hook plate fixation in patients with shoulder trauma. We reviewed 216 cases of hook plate fixation use at our hospital between January 2010 and May 2020. Finally, we included 76 cases of acute distal clavicle fracture (DCF) and 84 cases of acute acromioclavicular joint dislocation (ACD). We investigated all complications after hook plate use, bony union in the DCF group, and reduction loss in the ACD group. We defined painful shoulder stiffness (PSS) as aggravating resting pain with stiff shoulder, and pain on shoulder elevation (PSE) as continued shoulder pain on elevation without PSS before plate removal. PSS was managed with intra-articular steroid injections or manipulation with or without arthroscopic capsular release (ACR). PSS occurred in 36 and 33 cases of DCF and ACD, respectively. PSE occurred in 17 of 76 fractures and 13 of 84 dislocations. However, no iatrogenic rotator cuff injury was verified by magnetic resonance imaging in patients with PSS or PSE. Subacromial erosion in patients with hook plate fixation should be considered a sequela and not a complication because it is unavoidable in surgery with an AO-type hook plate. The most common complication was PSS, followed by PSE. Full article

This retrospective study compared the clinical and functional outcomes of patients diagnosed with an idiopathic frozen shoulder with symptom onset of a maximum of six months, treated by arthroscopic capsular release followed by corticosteroid injection and physiotherapy to patients who received only corticosteroid injection followed by physiotherapy. The patients who underwent arthroscopic capsular release, intraoperative corticosteroid injection, and physiotherapy (Group I, n = 30) or received only corticosteroids injection and physiotherapy (Group II, n = 29) were examined in terms of shoulder range of motion (ROM), pain intensity, and function before a given treatment and three, six, and twelve months later. The groups were comparable pre-treatment in terms of ROM, pain, and functional outcome. Group I had statistically and clinically significantly better ROM and function at three and six months post-treatment than Group II. Despite being statistically significant, the between-group differences at twelve-month follow-up in ROM and function were too small to be considered clinically notable. The between-group comparison of pain revealed no significant differences at any post-treatment point of time. The early arthroscopic capsular release preceding corticosteroid injection and physiotherapy seemed more effective at three- and six-month follow-up; however, it brought a comparable result to corticosteroid injection and subsequent physiotherapy at twelve months follow-up. Full article