Comparison of short-term clinical outcomes of manipulation under anesthesia and arthroscopic capsular release in treating frozen shoulder

Manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) and arthroscopic capsular release (ACR) are the two most common treatment options in the surgical treatment of refractory frozen shoulder (FS).
This study aimed to compare the short-term clinical outcomes of MUA and ACR in refractory FS treatment. This retrospective study included 17 patients who received MUA and 15 patients who received ACR due to refractory FS. The patients were evaluated clinically and functionally with the range of motion (ROM), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, and visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score.
The mean follow-up time was 17.3 ± 9.8 months and 16.9 ± 9.1 months in the MUA and ACR groups, respectively, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.882). The mean age was 56.1 ± 6.8 and 55.7 ± 7.2 in the MUA and ACR groups, respectively, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.882). The two groups were found to be similar in terms of sex, affected side, duration of symptoms, presence of diabetes, and presence of thyroid disease (P > 0.970). In both groups, forward flexion, external rotation, and internal rotation improved significantly compared with preoperative values (P < 0.001). No significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of ROM, ASES score, and VAS pain score at the last follow-ups (P > 0.576).
Successful clinical and functional outcomes can be obtained with both MUA and ACR in the surgical treatment of refractory FS without major serious complications. In the present study, no significant difference was found between the MUA and ACR groups.