Arthroscopic Capsular Release

Dr. Frank Cannon

Dr. Frank Cannon

Dr. Frank Cannon is a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon that specializes in treating patients that have knee, shoulder, and hip problems.

What is Arthroscopic Capsular Release?

Capsular release surgeryArthroscopic capsular release is a minimally invasive shoulder surgery. It is performed to alleviate pain and the loss of movement in the shoulder due to adhesive capsulitis, or otherwise known as frozen shoulder.

Arthroscopic Capsular Release is a minimally invasive surgery implemented to speed up the final ā€œthawingā€ stage of frozen shoulder. The purpose of the procedure is to improve the range of movement in the shoulder by reducing the stiffness and the pain.

The patient will receive local anesthesia to numb the injection site as well as a sedative to relax. In some cases, general anesthesia may be administered. To begin the operation, the patient is positioned so that the back of the shoulder is clearly visible to the surgeon.

The surgeon starts by making 3 small incisions on the shoulder to insert the arthroscope and the RF (radiofrequency) probe. The arthroscope camera allows the surgery to be viewed on a large screen while photos are taken of the findings within the shoulder.

Capsular Release SurgeryThe surgeon pinpoints the inflamed capsule tissue surrounding the joint and then uses the RF probe to cut away this capsule tissue. As the RF probe cuts, the radiofrequency waves cauterize the tissue to minimize any bleeding in the joint. A steroid injection may then be given into the joint before closing up the incision sites with stitches.

What is Frozen Shoulder?

Arthroscopic capsular release is a minimally invasive shoulder surgery. It is performed to alleviate pain and the loss of movement in the shoulder due to adhesive capsulitis, or otherwise known as frozen shoulder.

The term ā€œFrozen shoulderā€ can often be confused for arthritis, however it should be noted that they are not the same. Frozen shoulder relates specifically to the shoulder joint, whereas arthritis may take place in other joints as well. Frozen shoulder is a common issue people face between the ages of 40-60 years, particularly women. It is described as a persistent pain and stiffness within the shoulder joint. It can develop gradually in one or both shoulders and typically is able to heal naturally within a 1 to 3-year span.

What Causes Frozen Shoulder?

Your shoulder is made up of 3 bones (shoulder blade, collarbone and upper arm bone), ball-and-socket joint, and connective tissue. The upper arm bone fits into the ball-and-socket joint, and is surrounded by connective tissue and synovial fluid which allows the joint to move without friction.

When the connective tissue thickens and tightens it limits the movement of the shoulder. This can make mobility of the shoulder stiff and painful, resulting in frozen shoulder. The exact reason for why frozen shoulder may occur is still unknown. However, there are specific risk factors that increase the chances of suffering from frozen shoulder.

Are There Risks to Arthroscopic Capsular Release?

Be sure to talk to your doctor if you have concerns about any potential risks associated with arthroscopic capsular release surgery. As this is a minimally invasive orthopedic procedure, it is considered to be very safe.

Some side effects to be aware of include:

  • Symptoms of stiffness returning afterwards – This is not very common, but may require additional surgery to address.
  • Infection – Serious precautions are taken to avoid and minimize the chance of infection
  • Bleeding – this risk is rare as arthroscopic capsular release is a ā€œkeyholeā€ procedure
  • Thrombosis/blood clot – this is typically less common in shoulder surgeries
  • Nerve injury – This is a very rare risk, but in the case it does happen further operations or treatments may be required

The chances of developing Adhesive Capsulitis (Frozen Shoulder) increase if you are:

  • Ā Over the age of 40
  • Ā Women; Of those suffering from frozen shoulder, 70% of those are women
  • Ā Recently suffered from a medical condition that limits movement of your arm, such as:
    • Arm fracture
    • Surgery
    • MastectomyĀ 

Other conditions that increase the risk of Frozen Shoulder:

  • Diabetes
    • Ā Approximately 10-20% of those with Diabetes develop frozen shoulder
  • Stroke
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
  • Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
  • Parkinsonā€™s disease

How Frozen Shoulder Develops

Frozen shoulder gradually develops in 3 stages.

  1. The freezing stage- In this stage any movement of the shoulder results in pain and this begins to limit the mobility of the shoulder.
  2. The frozen stage- While the pain may lessen, the shoulder is stiffening more and use of the shoulder is becoming increasingly difficult.
  3. The thawing stage- Shoulder mobility gradually begins to improve

Recovery After Arthroscopic Capsular Release Surgery in Tampa

Immediately following the procedure, the patientā€™s arm will feel numb due to the anesthetic but feeling should be regained within 24 hours. Post-operative pain is to be expected and pain relievers will be prescribed. Patients may be released the same day or after one overnight stay. Post-operative care instructions, activities and exercises will be discussed with you. Physical therapy is typically advised to restore full mobility in the shoulder. Full recovery can be seen within 3 months or more.

Are You a Candidate for Arthroscopic Capsular Release?

It is important to talk with your doctor to discuss your options and decide if arthroscopic capsular release surgery is right for you. You may be a candidate if you

  • Experience pain from frozen shoulder even in simple activities such as buckling a seatbelt or washing your hair.Ā Ā 
  • Have tried other non-surgical treatment methods and failed to find relieve for your shoulder pain and stiffness
  • Have had persistent pain and stiffness for over 2 years with little to no relief that limits the mobility of the shoulder and daily activitiesĀ 

Are There Alternatives To This Surgery?

Some alternatives to arthroscopic capsular release surgery to relieve or resolve frozen shoulder are:

  • Nonsurgical treatments are often attempted by patients before considering surgery. Unfortunately, it can take 12-18 months before symptoms subside. Some of these treatments include:
    • Hot or cold compress
    • Corticosteroid injection
      • An injection of a hormone into the shoulder to reduce pain and swelling. Repeated injections are not advised, as they can result in more damage to the shoulder
    • Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
      • Ā A machine used to numb the nerve endings in the spine that control pain signals to the brain
    • Physical therapy
  • Manipulation under anesthesia
    • A deep stretch of the shoulder while the patient is under anesthesia. There are possible complications with this procedure, and it is considered less common since arthroscopic capsular release surgery has increased. Often times manipulation under anesthesia may be performed after arthroscopic capsular release surgery.
  • Open capsular release
    • Another less commonly performed procedure since the rise of arthroscopic capsular release surgery. It is similar to arthroscopic capsular release however it requires the surgeon to look directly into the shoulder. This procedure is typically more painful, more invasive and does not allow for the access to the shoulder joint that arthroscopic capsular release surgery can provide.

These alternatives are considered conservative methods to treat frozen shoulder. If the conservative methods fail, surgery will be needed.

Schedule a Surgical Consultation in Florida

If you are suffering with shoulder pain, make sure to contact Florida Surgery Consultants. We have the best surgeons in the business to help you cure your frozen shoulder. We have five convenient locations in Tampa, Lakeland, Ocala, Bradenton (Lakewood Ranch) Come see us today!

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Dr. Frank Cannon

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