title: Surgical treatment for deltoid contracture in adults.
abstract: In a retrospective study, 60 shoulders in 38 adults with deltoid contracture were surgically treated by proximal or distal releases. Twenty-three patients, representing 34 treated shoulders, were followed up for at least 2 years (median was 4 years). By the last follow-up, all patients achieved satisfactory outcomes: freedom from pain, full range of motion, and normal muscle power. The proximal release was used in patients with one-portion (one of the deltoid origins) involvement, and the distal release was used in patients with two- or three-portion involvement. Three shoulders (5%) had postoperative complications in the form of intramuscular hematomas, which were resorbed spontaneously within 3 weeks. The authors recommend surgical release to treat deltoid contracture whenever indicated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kweishan, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Shih
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003286:Contracture / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012782:Shoulder / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*