title: Interventional microadhesiolysis: a new nonsurgical release technique for adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A nonsurgical intervention, interventional microadhesiolysis, was developed to release adhesions in joints and soft tissues. This paper introduces the procedure and evaluates the efficacy of the intervention for adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten patients (five men and five women) with primary adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder were treated at a chronic pain management center in Korea. Three specially made needles are used in interventional microadhesiolysis: the Round, Flexed Round, and Ahn's needles. A Round Needle is inserted on the skin over middle of supraspinatus and advanced under the acromion and acromioclavicular joint (subacromial release). A Flexed Round Needle is inserted two-fingers caudal to the inferior border of the scapular spine and advanced over the capsule sliding on the surface of infraspinatus muscle-tendon fascia. The capsule is released while an assistant simultaneously passively abducts the shoulder to full abduction (posteroinferior capsule release). An Ahn's Needle is inserted on the skin over the lesser tubercle and advanced under the coracoid process sliding on the surface of the subscapularis muscle (subcoracoid release).
  
  
  RESULTS
  After the patients underwent interventional microadhesiolysis, the self-rated pain score or severity declined significantly (p < .01), the shoulder range of motion increased significantly (p < .01), and joint effusion in the affected shoulder decreased or disappeared in nine of ten patients on magnetic resonance imaging compared to their initial status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that interventional microadhesiolysis is effective for managing adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Ansan, Republic of Korea. kangahn2003@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Kang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Young-Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Eun-Ha
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung-Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Tae-Kyun
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Yong-Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyung-Joon
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Jhun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002062:Bursitis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017746:Joint Capsule / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D059408:Pain Management; D010147:Pain Measurement; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013582:Synovial Fluid; D016896:Treatment Outcome