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The frozen shoulder: Diagnosis and treatment. Prospective study of 50 cases of adhesive capsulitis

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Summary

A prospective study of randomized analysis treatment of 50 cases of frozen shoulder was carried out in 3 Swiss medical centres. Three separate aetiological groups were studied: post-traumatic (40%), neurological (14%) and idiopathic (46%). An increased radioisotope bone scan (99 mTc diphosphonate) was found in 96% of cases, regardless of aetiology. The so-called idiopathic frozen shoulder showed a scapulo-humeral increase in radioisotope uptake in several areas (in 82% of cases) without involvement of the ipsilateral carpus. Clinically, the neurological type was associated with a shoulder-hand syndrome with positive bone scan of the shoulder and the wrist in all cases. The post-traumatic type showed a diffuse (in 50% of the cases) or at several circumscribed areas (also in 50%) increase in radioisotope uptake in the shoulder. In 45% of the post-traumatic type, there was also a shoulder-hand syndrome with uptake in the wrist also. A physical treatment and early mobilization, associated with the administration of subcutaneous salmon calcitonin for 21 days (100 U Calcitonin® Sandoz) had a statistically significant increased effect on pain compared to treatment with physiotherapy alone by patients with post-traumatic frozen shoulders (p<0.02). There was no significant difference, however, in the speed of recovery of function between the two treatment groups. These observations strengthen the hypothesis that adhesive capsulitis behave like an algoneurodystrophic process.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Service de Rhumatologie, Médecine Physique et Rééducation, Hôpital Cantonal, 1700, Fribourg, Suisse

    M. Waldburger (Médecin-chef)

  2. Service de Rhumatologie, Médecine Physique et Réhabilitation, Hôpital, Delémont, Suisse

    J. -L. Meier

  3. Service de Médecine Physique et Rééducation, Hôpital De Gravelone, Sion, Suisse

    C. Gobelet

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  1. M. Waldburger
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  2. J. -L. Meier
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  3. C. Gobelet
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Waldburger, M., Meier, J.L. & Gobelet, C. The frozen shoulder: Diagnosis and treatment. Prospective study of 50 cases of adhesive capsulitis. Clin Rheumatol 11, 364–368 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02207194

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02207194

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