title: Lesions of the mid-shaft of the humerus presenting as shoulder capsulitis.
abstract: We describe three patients who presented with pain and restriction of movement at the shoulder suggestive of capsulitis, but proved to have lesions of the mid-shaft of the humerus. It is important to be aware of the possibility of this cause of a 'frozen shoulder', since radiographs of the shoulder are usually cropped at the mid-humerus and lesions at this level may easily be missed. A radiograph of the entire humerus, or an isotope bone scan, may be more useful than repeated shoulder radiographs in patients whose shoulder symptoms do not respond to standard treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Whittington Hospital, London.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Binder
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Paice
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006811:Humerus / Q000293:injuries*; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D010146:Pain; D011859:Radiography; D012785:Shoulder Joint; D013997:Time Factors