Frozen Shoulder Manipulation with the FEAR Technique: A Retrospective Case Series with Minimum Two-Year Follow-up

Conservative treatment of adhesive capsulitis fails in up to 30% of patients. Manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) has been shown to be safe and effective, although complications (iatrogenic fracture, glenohumeral dislocation, rotator cuff tears, nerve injuries) have been reported. This study details a novel technique, FEAR (Forward elevation, Extension, Adduction/abduction, and internal and external Rotation), and its results. Medical records review identified 100 patients with a diagnosis of adhesive capsulitis who had at least 6 weeks of physical therapy, with or without corticosteroid injection, with persistence of pain and loss of motion loss. An Institutional Review Board approved phone survey obtained Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) scores, visual analog scale (VAS) scores, functional scores, and range of motion, with 43 available for survey. At average 5-year follow-up, 81% had excellent (≥ 90) scores and 77% were pain-free. Patients with diabetes and male patients had significantly lower SANE scores at follow-up. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 31(2):096–099, 2022)

Key Words: adhesive capsulitis, frozen shoulder, manipulation under anesthesia, FEAR technique, outcomes, patient characteristics