Factors Affecting the Outcomes of Arthroscopic Capsular Release for Idiopathic Adhesive Capsulitis

BACKGROUND: Arthroscopic capsular release has been shown to provide excellent short- and long-term outcomes in patients with idiopathic frozen shoulder. Some surgeons delay surgery in the belief that operating in the early stages of adhesive capsulitis results in a poorer prognosis. However, it is unclear which factors, particularly the stage of the disorder, affect the surgical outcome of this procedure. HYPOTHESIS: Patients who undergo capsular release during the early symptomatic stage of idiopathic adhesive capsulitis would have less improvement in range of motion compared with those who undergo surgery at a later stage. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS: A total of 189 shoulders with idiopathic adhesive capsulitis that underwent arthroscopic capsular release were evaluated. All patients completed a L’Insalata questionnaire and had their range of motion and strength tested prior to surgery and at 1, 6, and 12 weeks and 6 months post–capsular release. Post hoc, patients were grouped by whether they had symptoms lasting <10 months (shorter symptoms group; n = 131) or ≥10 months (longer symptoms group; n = 38). Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to determine which preoperative factors were independently associated with a favorable outcome. RESULTS: Patients in the shorter symptoms group were more restricted prior to surgery than were those in the longer symptoms group (mean ± SEM: external rotation, 17° ± 2° vs 27° ± 4° [P = .04]; abduction, 78° ± 3° vs 92° ± 6° [P = .04]; internal rotation, S3 ± 1 vs S1 ± 1 [P = .03]). The shorter symptoms group had greater postoperative improvement in internal rotation (from S3 ± 1 preoperatively to T12 ± 1 vertebral levels) compared with the longer symptoms cohort (from S1 ± 1 to L2 ± 1) (P = .02). CONCLUSION: Patients with a frozen shoulder and a duration of symptoms <10 months made greater improvements in internal rotation and had similar final results for flexion, abduction, and external rotation following arthroscopic capsular release when compared with patients who had a longer duration of symptoms, so there is no reason to delay surgery.