Frozen Shoulder Surgery

The Simple Patient Guide For Frozen Shoulder Surgery

Most of the time, frozen shoulder can be handled without doing frozen shoulder surgery. Forms of treatment include exercises for frozen shoulder, anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and steroids are occasionally given to ease pain.

If physical therapy and anti-inflammatory drugs don't handle the condition, then frozen shoulder surgery may need to be done. Frozen shoulder surgery begins with an anesthetic and is followed by manipulation of the shoulder area. Then two to three incisions are made around the shoulder.

frozen shoulder surgery arthroscopic

Instruments that give the physician magnified vision are inserted into the incisions and the scar tissue is divided. Occasionally, a rotator cuff tear will have to be repaired during this surgery. Frozen shoulder surgery is done as an outpatient and no sling is required. After surgery, physical therapy can begin very soon.
Surgery involves a gentle manipulation under anaesthetic, followed by key hole surgery in which two to three little stab incisions (about 0.5 to 1cm each in size) are made around the shoulder. Through these arthroscopic portals, the camera as well as a variety of surgical instruments is inserted into the shoulder and the layers of thickened scar tissue inside the shoulder are divided under direct magnified vision.

Most people would agree that if you have tried and not responded to anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroid injections as well as physiotherapy, then surgery can be considered. It must be noted that surgery is not a 'quick fix' but it can reduce the intensity of the pain and expedite the recovery process.
Frozen shoulder surgery is a painful condition of the shoulder triggering shoulder immobility. Medically it is termed as adhesive capsulitis. The condition worsens during sleep impairing the movement and is always associated with severe pain. No obvious causes have been isolated for this condition except the possibility of the trauma in the shoulder.

Treatment to Frozen shoulder follows three steps. The patient may require one or two or all of them depending on the severity of the case. The first step is medication where the patient is treated with steroids and anti inflammatory drugs. Introduction of frozen shoulder therapy along with medication usually cures this condition.

Frozen shoulder therapy is a set of exercises aimed to increase the mobility of the shoulder. Therapy is painful but is the most effective way to treat a frozen shoulder. Frozen shoulder surgery is resorted only if all the possible treatment options fail to cure the condition.

No admission is required for this surgery. Pain in the shoulder and Mobility of the shoulder is affected because of the adhesions that restrict the movement of the shoulder. Adhesions can be removed by arm movements without any incision or manipulation. There is no actual surgery performed on the patient. Another procedure is adopted that involves a couple of incisions and manipulation of the shoulder. This procedure is called as arthroscopic capsular release. The scar is divided and the tendon is snipped and resown that reduces the size of the tendon.

Movement of the shoulder is reduced on Frozen shoulder surgery. Normal movement is restored after prolonged physical therapy. Discontinuation of physical therapy has a high incidence of relapse of frozen shoulder. Occasionally, Frozen shoulder surgery might be performed to rectify the rotator cuff tears.