Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 15, 2026
05:52
Author Spotlight: Treating Frozen Shoulder with Small Needle Knife Therapy
Published on: November 17, 2023
2.5K
Association between Propionibacterium acnes and frozen shoulder: a pilot study
Tim D Bunker1, Matthew Boyd1, Sian Gallacher1
1The Shoulder Unit, Princess Elizabeth Orthopaedic Centre, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Exeter, UK.
Shoulder & Elbow
|September 2, 2016
Summary
This study found a link between frozen shoulder and infection, specifically Propionibacterium acnes. Further research is needed to explore this connection and potential new treatments for frozen shoulder.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Microbiology
- Immunology
Background:
- Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) has no established link to infection.
- This study investigated a potential association between bacterial infection and frozen shoulder.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that infection is not related to frozen shoulder.
- To explore the role of bacterial nucleic acids in frozen shoulder pathogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study of 10 patients with stage II idiopathic frozen shoulder.
- Tissue biopsies from the shoulder capsule and control fat tissue were analyzed.
- Extended bacterial culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used for microbial detection.
Main Results:
- Eight out of 10 patients showed positive bacterial cultures from the shoulder capsule.
- Propionibacterium acnes was identified in six of the positive cases.
- Bacterial nucleic acids were detected in the affected shoulder joint capsule.
Conclusions:
- The null hypothesis of no relationship between infection and frozen shoulder is rejected.
- Propionibacterium acnes is a potential causative agent in frozen shoulder.
- Further studies are required to confirm these findings and explore novel treatment strategies.
