title: Short-term outcomes after arthroscopic capsular release for adhesive capsulitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known about the short-term temporal outcomes of an arthroscopic capsular release for adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder). Specifically, it is not known how immediate the improvements are and how quickly patients return to normal function after an arthroscopic release.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 140 shoulders in 133 patients with idiopathic adhesive capsulitis who underwent a complete arthroscopic release of the shoulder capsule, performed by a single surgeon in a day surgery setting. Patient-reported pain and shoulder function were evaluated with the use of Likert scales, and an independent examiner assessed shoulder strength and range of motion preoperatively and at 1 week, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Arthroscopic capsular release resulted in immediate improvements in pain, functional outcomes, and range of motion (P < .0001). External rotation increased from 21° ± 17° (mean ±  standard deviation) to 76° ± 17° at 1 week. Passive range of shoulder motion improved at 1 week, deteriorated slightly at 6 weeks, and then continued to improve at 12 and 24 weeks. Before surgery, 38% of patients reported that they "always" experienced extreme pain. This proportion reduced to 30% (P < .0001) at 1 week postoperatively and 2% (P < .0001) at 24 weeks postoperatively. There were no complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients who underwent an arthroscopic capsular release for idiopathic adhesive capsulitis experienced significant reductions in pain, improvements in range of motion, and improvements in overall shoulder function in the first postoperative week. These immediate improvements in pain and function continue to improve at 6, 12, and 24 weeks postoperatively.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Research Institute, St George Hospital Campus, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Callum P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Research Institute, St George Hospital Campus, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Patrick H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Research Institute, St George Hospital Campus, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: murrell.g@ori.org.au.
authors.forename: George A C
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Murrell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001182:Arthroscopy; D002062:Bursitis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D057913:Joint Capsule Release; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D010147:Pain Measurement; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012399:Rotation; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Adhesive capsulitis; arthroscopic release; arthroscopy; pain measurement; recovery of function; shoulder