title: Long-term outcome of frozen shoulder.
abstract: Two-hundred and sixty-nine shoulders in 223 patients with a diagnosis of primary frozen shoulder were studied. The main outcome measure was the Oxford shoulder score. The mean follow-up from symptom onset was 4.4 years (range, 2-20 years). The mean age at symptom onset was 53.4 years; with women affected more commonly than men (1.6:1.0). Twenty percent of patients reported bilateral symptoms, but there were no recurrent cases. In the long term, 59% of patients had normal or near normal shoulders and 41% reported some ongoing symptoms. The majority of these persistent symptoms were mild (94%), with pain being the most common complaint. Only 6% had severe symptoms with pain and functional loss. Those with the most severe symptoms at condition onset had the worst long-term prognosis, P < .001.
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom. campbell.hand@suht.swest.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Campbell
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hand
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Clipsham
authors.forename: Jonathan L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Rees
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Carr
mesh_terms: D002062:Bursitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012785:Shoulder Joint; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome