Fibrous replacement of the deltoid muscle: a remediable cause of abduction contracture of the shoulder in scleroderma.

A 32-year-old male with progressive systemic sclerosis developed shoulder abduction contractures secondary to fibrous replacement of the central portions of his deltoid muscles. Surgical release of the fibrous bands resulted in prompt restoration of nearly full shoulder motion. One month later, however, a similar band developed in the triceps muscle. Although the association in this cases may have been coincidental, the neraly simultaneous onset of muscle fibrosis and cutaneous manifestations of progressive systemic sclerosis suggests a causal relationship.