Chen W J, Wu C C, Shih C H
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kweishan, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Am J Orthop (Belle Mead NJ). 1995 Jun;24(6):488-91.
In a retrospective study, 60 shoulders in 38 adults with deltoid contracture were surgically treated by proximal or distal releases. Twenty-three patients, representing 34 treated shoulders, were followed up for at least 2 years (median was 4 years). By the last follow-up, all patients achieved satisfactory outcomes: freedom from pain, full range of motion, and normal muscle power. The proximal release was used in patients with one-portion (one of the deltoid origins) involvement, and the distal release was used in patients with two- or three-portion involvement. Three shoulders (5%) had postoperative complications in the form of intramuscular hematomas, which were resorbed spontaneously within 3 weeks. The authors recommend surgical release to treat deltoid contracture whenever indicated.
