Frozen Shoulder Treatment (Adhesive Capsulitis)
The shoulder joint has a capsule that surrounds the head of the humerus (the ball) and the glenoid (the socket). The purpose of the capsule is to act as a restraint to dislocation at the extremes of movement, therefore improving the stability of the joint. When this joint capsule becomes inflamed, it is commonly termed a frozen shoulder or adhesive capsulitis. This is an extremely painful condition that also produces a marked restriction in movement in all directions, can make any activity of daily living problematic, and can severely disrupt sleep.
Arthroscopic capsular release is a minimally invasive surgery that is used to help relieve pain and loss of mobility in the shoulder from adhesive capsulitis. During frozen shoulder treatment, adhesions that have formed in the joint and associated structures are removed, thus releasing the shoulder capsule. To achieve this, a radiofrequency (RF) probe is inserted into the shoulder. The probe uses RF waves to cut the tissue capsule that surrounds the shoulder joint, allowing the shoulder to move more freely.