title: Treatment of posttraumatic adhesive capsulitis of the ankle: a case series.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adhesive capsulitis of the ankle is a challenging diagnostic and therapeutic problem. Limited information concerning diagnosis and treatment is available in the musculoskeletal literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study retrospectively reviewed a series of patients treated with corticosteroid injections or arthroscopic debridement of posttraumatic adhesive capsulitis of the ankle. The Foot Function Index was used to assess the final treatment outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-one patients with chronic posttraumatic ankle pain were identified. Five were confirmed to have posttraumatic adhesive capsulitis by arthrogram. Four of the five patients failed to respond to steroid injections and three had arthroscopic surgery. Foot Function Index scores indicated that two of these patients treated with arthroscopic debridement had improved function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of small series and information from the literature suggest that intra-articular injection of corticosteroid followed by arthroscopic synovectomy and scar resection can be effective as treatment for posttraumatic adhesive capsulitis of the ankle.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0159, USA.
authors.forename: Quanjun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Todd
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Milbrandt
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Millington
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Shepard
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hurwitz
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D001182:Arthroscopy; D002062:Bursitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D003646:Debridement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones