Objective:

Adhesive capsulitis (AC) is a pathology that characterizes with shoulder pain and progressive restriction in active and passive range of motion of the shoulder joint. In recent years, ultrasonography has been widely used in the evaluation of shoulder pathologies. The diagnostic value of ultrasonography in AC has been researched but not fully explained.

Materials and Methods:

We retrospectively evaluated patients aged between 30 and 65 years who were admitted to our Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department with complaints of shoulder pain, restriction of shoulder movements and who were followed up with the diagnosis of AC and evaluated as stage 2 and 3. Patients were assessed with ultrasonography in terms of presence of effusion around the biceps tendon, presence of subdeltoid bursitis, presence of intraarticular effusion at the posterior region, appearance of rotator interval, coracohumeral ligament thickness, presence of rupture or calcified lesions in rotator cuff tendons.

Results:

A total of 33 patients (17 females, 16 males) were included in the study who were diagnosed as AC. 57.57% of the patients had effusion around the biceps tendon, 63.63% had subdeltoid bursitis, and 69.69% had intraarticular effusion. A total of 4 patients had appearance of partial tear at the rotator cuff tendons. In three patients, calcific lesions were detected in rotator cuff tendons (supraspinatus tendon in 2 patients, subscapularis tendon in 1 patient).

Conclusion:

Ultrasonography is valuable both in terms of the diagnosis of AC and the detection of secondary causes of AC.

Keywords: Adhesive capsulitis, ultrasonography