What is diabetic periarthritis of the shoulder?
Diabetic periarthritis of the shoulder is also known as frozen shoulder or adhesive capsulitis . It occurs in 10% to 33% of diabetics and is five times more common in diabetics than in nondiabetics. The typical patient is a woman with type 2 diabetes of long duration who presents with diffuse soreness and global loss of motion of the shoulder. Up to 50% of patients have bilateral involvement, although the nondominant shoulder is frequently more severely involved. Laboratory studies and radiographs are unremarkable. Some patients have calcific (hydroxyapatite) periarthritis/tendinitis , which is three times more common in diabetics than in nondiabetics and may increase the risk of developing a frozen shoulder. Treatment may include nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), intraarticular steroids (weak data for efficacy), and physical therapy to improve range of motion. Efficacy data for manipulation under anesthesia is also weak. For unclear reasons, this syndrome may spontaneously remit after weeks to months.
