I have a frozen shoulder. My doctor says arthroscopic surgery can give me more movement in the shoulder. But surgery’s the thing that made it stiff in the first place. Can I expect good results from this procedure?

In all likelihood, yes. This procedure was recently studied in 33 patients who had shoulder stiffness from surgery. The patients had tried physical therapy and manipulation under anesthesia without positive results.

Two years after arthroscopic release, patients had more movement in the treated shoulder. They had less pain and better shoulder function. They were also more satisfied with their treatment.

Only four patients weren’t helped by the procedure. They went on to have open surgery. Researchers note that, in general, gains made by patients with previous shoulder surgery may be smaller than those of other patients. This could be due to the original injury or surgery. Still, patients whose shoulder stiffness comes from surgery seem to benefit from arthroscopic treatment.