Your shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint made up of three bones: your upper arm bone (humerus), your shoulder blade (scapula), and your collarbone (clavicle). The head of the upper arm bone fits into a shallow socket in your shoulder blade. Strong connective tissue, called the shoulder capsule, surrounds the joint. To help your shoulder move more easily, synovial fluid lubricates the shoulder capsule and the joint. In frozen shoulder, the shoulder capsule thickens and becomes stiff and tight. Thick bands of tissue — called adhesions — develop. In many cases, there is less synovial fluid in the joint. Most cases are treated with conservative measures, but in extreme cases a capsular release surgery may be necessary. Dr. Austin Chen, Orthopedic shoulder specialist in the Boulder Colorado area specializes in treating these such injuries.
What is a capsular release surgery for frozen shoulder?
A capsular release is a minimally-invasive shoulder surgery. Dr. Austin Chen uses an arthroscopic technique to cut the tissue capsule that surrounds the shoulder joint, allowing the shoulder to move more freely.
What is the recovery from capsular release surgery?
In most cases, patients will return home the day of surgery. After one to two weeks, Dr. Austin Chen will prescribe a physical therapy regime to restore strength and mobility of the shoulder. Physical therapy can be completed through the Boulder Centre for Orthopedics Physical Therapy Center, which offers all patients complete and seamless recovery care.
