Arthrography of the shoulder joint: study of the findings in adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder. Study of the findings in adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder.

1. Arthrography of the shoulder demonstrates the gross pathological changes in adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder. In true adhesive capsulitis, or frozen shoulder, arthrography shows a very definite decrease in joint capacity with obliteration of the reflected axillary fold. In many instances the subscapularis bursa is decreased in size or not visualized at all but, as a rule, the bicipital sheath is well outlined. 2. This procedure can serve as a diagnostic aid to differentiate true adhesive capsulitis from stiff and painful shoulder due to other causes. 3. A mixture of twelve cubic centimeters of 35 per cent diodrast and four cubic centimeters of 1 per cent procaine appears to be the ideal solution to use for injection of shoulder joints. This amount gives arthrograms with excellent detail, and the procaine prevents any pain when the solution is injected into the joint.