Manipulation for frozen shoulder: Long-term results

doi:10.1016/j.jse.2005.02.012

Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery

Volume 14, Issue 5, September–October 2005, Pages 480-484

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2005.02.012 Get rights and content

Although much has been published regarding shoulder manipulation under anesthesia for the treatment of frozen shoulder, there are no reported long-term results. In 25 patients (26 shoulders) in whom nonoperative treatment for idiopathic frozen shoulder had failed, we performed manipulation under anesthesia. All had had physical therapy for a mean of 6.2 months. Follow-up was by examination until the end of active treatment. Longer-term follow-up was obtained in 18 patients (19 shoulders) by questionnaire and averaged 15 years (range, 8.1 to 20.6 years). There were significant improvements in forward elevation from a mean of 104° before manipulation (range, 70° to 140°) to 168° (range, 90° to 180°) and in external rotation from 23° (range, –5° to 70°) to 67° (range, 0° to 90°). There were 16 shoulders with no pain or slight pain and 3 with occasional moderate or severe pain. There were no fractures, dislocations, or other complications. Of the 19 shoulders, 18 required no further surgery. At long-term follow-up, the mean Simple Shoulder Test score was 9.5 out of 12 and the mean American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score was 80 out of 100. Treatment of idiopathic frozen shoulder by manipulation under anesthesia leads to sustained improvement in shoulder motion and function at a mean of 15 years after the procedure.

Section snippets

Materials and methods

With the use of the surgical indices as a database, patients who underwent manipulation under anesthesia for frozen shoulder between 1981 and 1993 were identified. All manipulations were done by the senior author. The criteria for patient selection included the diagnosis of frozen shoulder characterized by pain and limited active and passive range of motion (ROM) of the shoulder for which no other cause could be identified, no prior surgery of the affected shoulder, no previous fracture or

Complications

There were no observed complications from treatment; specifically, there were no intraoperative fractures, dislocations, symptomatic rotator cuff tears, regional pain disorders, or neurovascular injuries as a result of the manipulation. One patient required surgery for a symptomatic rotator cuff tear 3 years later. She had had an excellent result after the manipulation with regard to pain relief and motion for over a year until the development of further symptoms. Of note, after undergoing

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Cited by (127)

Improved range of motion after manipulation under anesthesia versus physiotherapy for stage two frozen shoulder: a randomized controlled trial
2024, JSES International
Frozen shoulder (FS) is a common cause of shoulder pain and stiffness. Conservative treatment is sufficient for the majority of patients with long-term recovery of shoulder function. Manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) is known as a well-established treatment option if conservative treatment fails. It is unknown whether MUA does indeed shorten the duration of symptoms or leads to a superior outcome compared to conservative treatment. The objective of the current trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of MUA followed by a physiotherapy (PT) program compared to a PT program alone in patients with stage 2 FS.
A prospective, single-center randomized controlled trial was performed. Patients between 18 and 70 years old with stage 2 FS were deemed eligible if an initial course of conservative treatment consisting of PT and intra-articular corticosteroid infiltration was considered unsatisfactory. Patients were randomized, and data was collected with an online data management platform (CASTOR). MUA was performed by a single surgeon under interscalene block, and intensive PT treatment protocol was started within 4 hours after MUA. In the PT group, patients were referred to instructed physiotherapist, and treatment was guided by tissue irritability. The primary outcome was the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) score. Secondary outcomes were pain, range of motion (ROM), Oxford Shoulder Score, quality of life, and ability to work.
In total, 82 patients were included, 42 in the PT group and 40 in the MUA group. There was a significant improvement in SPADI, Oxford Shoulder Score, pain, ROM, and quality of life in both groups at 1-year follow-up. SPADI scores at three months were significantly improved in favor of MUA. MUA showed a significantly bigger increase in anteflexion and abduction compared to PT at all points of follow-up. No significant differences between both groups were found for all other parameters. No fractures, dislocations, or brachial plexus injuries occurred in this trial.
MUA in stage 2 FS can be considered safe and results in a faster recovery of ROM and improved functional outcome, measured with SPADI scores, compared to PT alone in the short term. After 1 year, except for slightly better ROM scores for MUA, the result of MUA is equal to PT.
Clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of manipulation under brachial plexus block versus physiotherapy for refractory frozen shoulder: a prospective observational study
2023, JSES International
Frozen shoulder (FS) is a pathological condition that involves a painful and stiff shoulder joint, most commonly in people aged 40-60 years. Most literature supports treatment with physical therapy (PT), although some studies have demonstrated years of continuing pain and functional deficits. Manipulation under anesthesia is effective at eliminating the contracture of intra-articular lesions for refractory FS. This study aimed to compare whether manipulation under anesthesia or PT is a more effective treatment in refractory FS.
This study was a prospective observational study. A total of 102 patients with refractory FS were enrolled in this study in the medical records, all of whom had severe and multidirectional loss of motion and thickening of the joint capsule and coracohumeral ligament on magnetic resonance imaging. Fifty-one patients were in the manipulation under brachial plexus block (MUB) group (34 females, median age: 57 years), and 51 patients were in the PT group (34 females, median age: 59 years). The MUB procedure consisted of the conventional method with additional adduction manipulation, in which one examiner initially abducted the shoulder joint as much as possible. We recorded the visual analog scale, shoulder range of motion, and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons and Constant Scores at the initial baseline visit and at the 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups. The total cost was calculated from the medical records, and cost-effectiveness was evaluated using quality-adjusted life year and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio.
Visual analog scale (P < .001), range of motion (P < .001), and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons and Constant Scores (P < .001) in the MUB group were significantly superior to those in the PT group at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment. The median cost and total quality-adjusted life year in the MUB and PT groups were $1375 versus $2751 and 2.95 versus 2.68, respectively, and the cost-effectiveness ratio between the MUB and PT groups was calculated as -$560.
The new MUB procedure provides a shorter treatment period, better clinical outcomes, and higher cost-effectiveness in patients with refractory FS compared to PT.
Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair, Manipulation Under Anesthesia, and Capsular Release for Concurrent Rotator Cuff Tear and Adhesive Capsulitis Maintain Improvements in Outcomes and Range of Motion at Minimum 5-Year Follow-Up
2023, Arthroscopy, Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation
To characterize the outcomes and range of motion at a minimum 5-year follow-up in patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) with simultaneous manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) and capsular release (CR) for concurrent RC and adhesive capsulitis and to compare active range of motion of the operative and nonoperative shoulder.
Patients undergoing ARCR with MUA and CR by a single surgeon were retrospectively reviewed and prospectively evaluated at a minimum of 5 years postoperatively. Standardized surveys, examinations, and patient-reported outcomes were recorded pre- and postoperatively. Outcome measures included range of motion, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon Score (ASES), visual analog score (VAS) for pain, Simple Shoulder Test (SST), subjective shoulder value (SSV), functional level, and satisfaction.
Fourteen consecutive patients were evaluated at 7.5 ± 1.6 years’ follow-up. At final follow-up, the affected shoulder had substantial improvements in ASES (P < .001), VAS (P < .001), SST (P = .001), and SSV (P < .001), with similar ASES, VAS, SST, and SSV compared with the contralateral side. Range of motion was also similar to the contralateral side at final follow-up for forward elevation and internal rotation, but external rotation was noted to be 10.77 ± 17.06° (95% confidence interval 0.46-21.08, P = .042) more limited. Two patients (14%) underwent revision MUA and CR for stiffness at 6 months and 12 months’ postoperatively.
This study highlights significantly improved and maintained patient-reported outcomes and range of motion at minimum 5-year follow-up in patients undergoing concomitant ARCR, MUA, and CR. These results provide further evidence that preoperative stiffness in the setting of rotator cuff tear can be managed concurrently; however, patients may remain at an increased risk for recurrent stiffness and external rotation loss.
Level IV, therapeutic case series.
Reduction of abnormal blood flow in frozen shoulder after shoulder manipulation under ultrasound-guided cervical nerve root block: semiquantitative analysis using dynamic magnetic resonance imaging
2022, JSES International
We previously reported a characteristic dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) change in patients with frozen shoulder (FS) and named this abnormal blood flow pattern the “burning sign”. In this study, a semiquantitative method was used to evaluate changes in this abnormal blood flow pattern on dynamic MRI after shoulder manipulation under ultrasound-guided cervical nerve root block (MUC) in patients with FS.
Nineteen patients with FS underwent MUC, with dynamic MRI performed before and after. We used dynamic MRI to semiquantitatively assess changes in the burning sign at the axillary pouch (AP) and rotator interval (RI) by examining the enhancement rate in the signal intensity and the enhancement velocity. Functional assessments included a numeric rating scale score, the range of shoulder motion, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, and the Constant score.
The burning sign in the AP and RI was observed with dynamic MRI in all patients before MUC. The average interval from MUC until dynamic MRI was 8.2 months (range, 6-12). Clinical results for all patients improved after MUC. The before and after MUC enhancement rates (%) were 217 ± 51 and 85 ± 36 in the AP and 233 ± 61 and 73 ± 40 in the RI, respectively (both P < .001). The before and after MUC enhancement velocities (ms/s) were 902 ± 335 and 203 ± 125 in the AP and 1249 ± 634 and 213 ± 146 in the RI, respectively (both P < .001).
Dynamic MRI semiquantitatively demonstrated a reduction in abnormal blood flow and improvement in clinical results after MUC in patients with FS.
Effects of comorbidities on the outcomes of manipulation under anesthesia for primary stiff shoulder
2021, Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery
Studies on the effects of manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) for primary stiff shoulder when different comorbidities are present are lacking. Our aim was to assess how comorbidities influence the recovery speed and clinical outcomes after MUA.
Between April 2013 and September 2018, 281 consecutive primary stiff shoulders in the frozen phase treated with MUA were included in this study. We investigated the comorbidities of patients and divided them into the control (n = 203), diabetes mellitus (DM) (n = 32), hyperlipidemia (n = 26), and thyroid disorder (n = 20) groups. The range of motion (ROM) and clinical scores for each group before MUA and 1 week, 6 weeks, and 3 months after MUA were comparatively analyzed. We identified the ROM recovery time after MUA and the responsiveness to MUA. Then, subjects were subdivided into early and late recovery groups based on their recovery time and into successful and nonsuccessful MUA groups based on their responsiveness to MUA.
Significant improvements in ROM and clinical scores at 3 months after MUA were observed in all groups. Significant differences in ROM among the 4 groups were also observed during follow-up (P < .05). The DM group had significantly lower ROM values, even at 3 months after MUA, compared with the control group. The ROM recovery speed after MUA was slowest in the DM group, followed by the thyroid disorder, hyperlipidemia, and control groups. Most (90.6%) of the DM group experienced late recovery. The proportion of nonsuccessful MUA was higher in the DM and thyroid disorder groups than that in the control and hyperlipidemia groups (P = .004). During follow-up, there were no differences among groups regarding the visual analog scale, University of California at Los Angeles shoulder, and Constant scores.
The ROM recovery speed and responsiveness to MUA for primary stiff shoulder were poorer for the DM and thyroid disorder groups than for the control group. In particular, compared with any other disease, outcomes were poorer when the comorbidity was DM. If patients have comorbidities, then they should be informed before MUA that the comorbidity could affect the outcomes of treatment.
Letter to the Editor regarding Hagiwara et al: “Effects of joint capsular release on range of motion in patients with frozen shoulder”
2021, Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery

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Original articleManipulation for frozen shoulder: Long-term results

Section snippets

Materials and methods

Complications

The shoulderrupture of the supraspinatus tendon and other lesions in or about the subacromial bursa

De la peri-arthrite scapulo-humerale et des raideurs de l’epaule qui ensont la consequence

Arch Gen Med

Mobilization of frozen shoulder under general anesthesia

Acta Orthop Belg

Manipulation in the treatment of frozen shoulder

Orthopedics

Disorders of the shoulderdiagnosis and management

Frozen shoulder

Original article
Manipulation for frozen shoulder: Long-term results