title: Thermal capsulorrhaphy for acute or chronic shoulder instability.
abstract: During the past two decades, arthroscopic procedures have been replacing traditional, more invasive orthopedic surgical procedures. As technology becomes more advanced, the opportunity to provide a greater number of minimally invasive surgical interventions continues to improve. Thermal modification of joint capsule and ligamentus tissues, a recent introduction to medical science, has been investigated extensively during the past six years. Arthroscopic thermal capsulorrhaphy is one such procedure, and it is performed on individuals with a history of joint instability. These patients now can be treated surgically without large incisions and significant shoulder joint trauma. The thermal unit in both monopolar and bipolar models has similar properties to those of the basic electrosurgical unit. Relatively low-temperature heat is directed to the supportive structures of the shoulder joint causing the tissues to expand. This tightens a previously stretched and attenuated shoulder capsule.
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic OR Service, Wright-Patterson Medical Center, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Erickson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mikutis
mesh_terms: D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing*; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D017746:Joint Capsule / Q000601:surgery*; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000451:nursing* / Q000601:surgery; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D013527:Perioperative Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*