Long-term outcome of frozen shoulder

J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2008 Mar-Apr;17(2):231-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2007.05.009. Epub 2007 Nov 12.

Abstract

Two-hundred and sixty-nine shoulders in 223 patients with a diagnosis of primary frozen shoulder were studied. The main outcome measure was the Oxford shoulder score. The mean follow-up from symptom onset was 4.4 years (range, 2-20 years). The mean age at symptom onset was 53.4 years; with women affected more commonly than men (1.6:1.0). Twenty percent of patients reported bilateral symptoms, but there were no recurrent cases. In the long term, 59% of patients had normal or near normal shoulders and 41% reported some ongoing symptoms. The majority of these persistent symptoms were mild (94%), with pain being the most common complaint. Only 6% had severe symptoms with pain and functional loss. Those with the most severe symptoms at condition onset had the worst long-term prognosis, P < .001.

MeSH terms

  • Bursitis* / diagnosis
  • Bursitis* / etiology
  • Bursitis* / therapy
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Shoulder Joint*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Treatment Outcome