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The role of the inferior glenohumeral capsule ratio in the diagnosis of frozen shoulder/ adhesive capsulitis—An ultrasound study

Monday, 23 June 2025

The role of the inferior glenohumeral capsule ratio in the diagnosis of frozen shoulder/adhesive capsulitis—An ultrasound study

Inferior glenohumeral capsule ratio measured from ultrasound images has potential to diagnose frozen shoulder. Frozen shoulder is debilitating and definitive diagnosis can only be made by invasive procedures such as arthrography and arthroscopy. This study investigates the potential of the inferior glenohumeral capsule ratio measured using ultrasound as a tool to diagnose frozen shoulder. This measurement demonstrates thickening of the inferior glenohumeral capsule that occurs with frozen shoulder, is non-invasive, is not influenced by anthropometric or sex variations and the contralateral shoulder does not have to be symptom free as long as it does not exhibit the clinical signs of frozen shoulder. An inferior glenohumeral ratio of greater than 1.8 has 92% specificity to detect frozen shoulder if the measurement is made with the shoulder in 90 degrees abduction.   

The role of the inferior glenohumeral capsule ratio in the diagnosis of frozen shoulder/ adhesive capsulitis