Published online Apr 26, 2015. doi: 10.13105/wjma.v3.i2.82
Peer-review started: October 14, 2014
First decision: December 17, 2014
Revised: December 31, 2014
Accepted: January 15, 2015
Article in press: January 19, 2015
Published online: April 26, 2015
Processing time: 196 Days and 6.3 Hours
A frozen shoulder is a common cause of shoulder pain and stiffness. The etiology and pathology of frozen shoulders is not fully understood yet. Frozen shoulder is characterized by a decrease in intra-articular volume and capsular compliance. This can lead to significant limitations in daily life. The majority of the patients can be treated conservatively, with functional recovery to be expected in two to three years. However, if conservative treatment fails, manipulation under anaesthesia and arthroscopic capsular release can both be considered as appropriate treatments. Manipulation is a traditionally well-established technique but in recent years it seems that arthroscopic capsular release has gained popularity. Manipulation is a relative time efficient and technically low-demanding procedure in which the glenohumeral joint is forced into different directions under general anaesthesia to release the capsular contracture, thereby increasing the range of motion of the joint. In arthroscopic capsular release the glenohumeral capsule can be released in a more controlled manner under direct vision. There are no prospective comparative trials available to display superiority of one procedure over the other. In addition, the optimal timing of both these interventions still has to be determined. An overview of the literature concerning this topic and a description of both procedures with its own advantages and disadvantages is provided.
Core tip: A frozen shoulder is a common cause of shoulder pain and stiffness, which is characterized by a decrease in intra-articular volume and capsular compliance. If conservative treatment fails, manipulation under anaesthesia and arthroscopic capsular release can both be considered as appropriate treatments. An overview of the literature concerning this topic and a description of both procedures with its own advantages and disadvantages is provided.