Abstract
Objectives Adhesive capsulitis (AC) is a restricted shoulder range of motion. Rotator cuff disease (RCD) has been believed to be a major etiologic factor of AC, however, how soon is the development time from RCD to AC (DTRA) has not been elucidated. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the correlation between the ultrasonographic characteristics of RCD and the DTRA. Methods Total 40 patients who were diagnosed as AC were recruited. The clinical characteristics of RCD were diagnosed by ultrasonography and classified with the Southern California Orthopedic Institute for Rotator Cuff Classification. The correlation was analyzed with Mann-Whitney U test and one-way analysis of variance. Results 60% of full thickness tear and 40% of partial thickness tear patients (10 male and 30 female, mean age of $54.0{\pm}8.4$ years) and 38% of bursitis and 21% of neovascularization were observed. The mean value of DTRA was $74.8{\pm}131.3$ days. There were no correlation between DTRA and gender (p=0.63), location of the partial tear (p=0.63), the severity of the partial thickness tear (p=0.63), full thickness tear (p=0.66) and completeness of the tear (p=0.16). The presence of bursitis or neovascularization was not associated with DTRA (p=0.60, p=0.61). Conclusions Although RCD is a major etiologic factor of AC, the severity, the type of RCD and the presence of bursitis and neovascularization were not statistically correlated with the DTRA in our study. Comprehensive consideration about etiologic factor analysis of AC will be needed with prospective study design for future study.
