The use of arthroscopy in the treatment of resistant frozen shoulder

Arthroscopy serves as a useful adjunct to manipulation under anesthesia in the treatment of resistant frozen shoulder. In this technique the shoulder is manipulated under interscalene brachial plexus block anesthesia, followed by arthroscopic examination and debridement of the glenohumeral joint and the subacromial space. The addition of arthroscopy allows the identification and treatment of associated pathology, such as impingement lesions and secondary subacromial space inflammation, calcific deposits, and acromioclavicular arthritis. Range of motion can also be increased by arthroscopically guided sectioning of the coracohumeral ligament. This treatment regimen has yielded overall satisfactory results in 25 (83%) of 30 shoulders in this series. The subgroup with diabetes mellitus fared less well than the other groups, with only 64% satisfactory results. While most patients with frozen shoulder will respond to nonoperative treatment, the technique of manipulation under anesthesia followed by arthroscopy offers a safe and reliable treatment for the resistant frozen shoulder.