Arthroscopic Outside-in Shoulder Release for Patients With an Inaccessible Glenohumeral Joint

Severe shoulder contracture, which usually results from severe frozen shoulder or traumatic arthrofibrosis, is clinically quite common. This condition requires surgical release resulting from severe functional impediment. However, most surgeons are reluctant to operate on such patients because the glenohumeral joint is always inaccessible because of contracture severity. Thus, we introduced an outside-in shoulder release technique starting from the posterior side of the glenohumeral joint. This procedure includes the fabrication of posterior and inferior posterior portals, locating the glenohumeral space out of the capsule, creating working space just posterior to the posterior capsule, releasing the posterior capsule, and thereafter releasing the inferior and superior capsules. Our clinical experience indicates that this procedure can be performed safely and effectively when certain guidelines are followed and can allow for subsequent access to the glenohumeral joint in most cases. We think the introduction of this technique will provide a special surgical option for patients with severe joint contracture.