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Frozen shoulder. A long-term follow-up
B Shaffer1, J E Tibone, R K Kerlan
1Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic, Inglewood, California 90301.
Summary
Idiopathic frozen shoulder often results in persistent mild pain or stiffness even after long-term non-operative treatment. Many patients experience lasting shoulder motion restrictions, particularly in external rotation.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Idiopathic frozen shoulder is a common condition causing shoulder pain and stiffness.
- Non-operative management is frequently employed, but long-term outcomes are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the long-term subjective and objective outcomes of non-operative treatment for idiopathic frozen shoulder.
- To assess the prevalence of persistent pain, stiffness, and range of motion limitations.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal evaluation of 62 patients (68 shoulders) treated non-operatively for idiopathic frozen shoulder.
- Follow-up duration ranged from 2 years 2 months to 11 years 9 months (average 7 years).
- Subjective assessment of pain and stiffness, and objective measurement of shoulder range of motion compared to unaffected shoulders.
Main Results:
- 50% of patients reported persistent mild pain or stiffness at long-term follow-up.
- 60% demonstrated some degree of motion restriction compared to normative data.
- External rotation was the most commonly restricted motion, especially in male patients with substantial limitations.
Conclusions:
- Non-operative treatment for idiopathic frozen shoulder can lead to persistent symptoms and functional limitations in a significant portion of patients.
- Long-term follow-up reveals ongoing challenges with shoulder range of motion, particularly external rotation.
- Further research into optimizing treatment strategies for long-term frozen shoulder recovery is warranted.