Title: Frozen Shoulder<br/>Author: Brian Corwell<br/><a href='http://umem.org/profiles/faculty/294/'>[Click to email author]</a><hr/><p>
<span style="font-size:14px;"><strong>Adhesive Capsulitis aka Frozen Shoulder</strong></span></p>
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Spontaneous gradual onset stiffness and pain of the Glenohumeral joint</p>
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Shoulder capsule becomes thickened and contracted</p>
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Often affects patients between 40 and 60 years old</p>
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Left> Right shoulder</p>
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Women> men</p>
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Association with diabetes and thyroid disease</p>
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3 clinical stages</p>
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1) Pain – gradual onset, diffuse, severe, disabling, often worse at night</p>
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2) Stiffness – decreased ROM, affects ADLs, improved pain</p>
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3) Thawing – gradual return of motion</p>
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Physical examination: Painful and decreased ROM. Evaluate active and passive movement, external rotation and ABduction of the shoulder most affected</p>
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Surgical or post traumatic shoulder stiffness usually resolves within 12 months.</p>
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Adhesive capsulitis is generally self-limiting lasting an average of 18-36 months.</p>
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DDX: Chronic locked posterior shoulder dislocation (VERY IMPORTANT), tumor.</p>
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Treatment: NSAIDs, Physical therapy, Intra articular steroids</p>
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If this fails, manipulation under anesthesia and/or arthroscopic surgical release</p>
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