A member of the research team
Brandon Ziegenfuss has been part of the research team for several years and is now entering the final year of his medical degree in Sydney. He returns to Brisbane as an intern next year, with the aim of a career as an orthopaedic shoulder surgeon.
The route he is on is a long one. Medical school is followed by an intern year, then further hospital years, before a doctor can apply for a place on orthopaedic specialist training, which runs for several more years and is in many cases followed by a subspecialty fellowship. Taking part in research while still a student is a useful start, because it shows how the evidence that guides treatment is actually produced.
What frozen shoulder and a 360° release are
Frozen shoulder, also called adhesive capsulitis, is a condition in which the capsule surrounding the shoulder joint becomes inflamed and then thickens and contracts. The shoulder becomes painful and progressively stiff, and movement is restricted in every direction rather than in one. It often settles over a long period without surgery, and treatment usually begins with physiotherapy and injections.
Where it does not settle, an arthroscopic release divides the tightened capsule through keyhole portals. A 360° release means the capsule is divided right around the joint rather than only at the front, with the intention of addressing stiffness in every direction of movement. Individual results vary.
The presentation
He presented a talk on outcomes following arthroscopic frozen shoulder 360° release, drawing on two studies.
The studies report improvements in range of motion that were sustained over 24 months, with no complications reported in the series. They also report that neither co-existing medical conditions nor the duration of symptoms before surgery limited long-term recovery, which is a useful finding for patients who have had a stiff shoulder for a long time before being referred.
These findings come from the published series rather than from comparison against an untreated group. Individual results vary.
Related information
- Our frozen shoulder and frozen shoulder release pages
- Our research page
- Our post on the frozen shoulder 360° release outcomes study
- Our post on the ESSKA Basic Science Abstract Awards