Frozen Shoulder Surgery

Frozen shoulder surgery is the last resort for a condition known as adhesive capsulitis which is very painful and debilitating. It can occur as a result of an accident or trauma or for no reason at all.

Risk factors –

• diabetes
• stroke
• lung disease
• heart disease

Frozen shoulder is usually found in people over the age of 40. With frozen shoulder, the tissue surrounding the shoulder joint becomes inflamed and forms adhesions around the muscles and tendons which restrict movement of the shoulder…

It is very painful and makes it hard to sleep at night on the affected area. Raising the arm will become difficult and painful. Simple tasks such as getting dressed, combing your hair, brushing your teeth or reaching overhead will become extremely painful and difficult.

Frozen shoulder happens in three stages -

• Freezing – there is a slow and sudden onset of pain and shoulder becomes stiff.
• Frozen – the pain may improve, but shoulder is still stiff.
• Thawing – movement in the shoulder slowly returns and pain decreases or disappears.

Most cases of this condition can be handled without doing frozen shoulder surgery. Forms of treatment include physical therapy, using anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and occasionally, an injection of steroids will be required to alleviate pain.

If the above treatments fail, then frozen shoulder surgery may be indicated. The first step in frozen shoulder surgery is giving the patient an anesthetic. Then the shoulder joint will be manipulated. Two to three small incisions are made around the shoulder area and instruments that give magnified vision to the area are inserted into the incisions.

Then the scar tissue is divided. If there is another condition that needs attention (such as a rotator cuff tear), it will also be handled. This surgery is usually done as an outpatient and no sling is needed. Physical therapy can begin very soon after surgery.

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