Purpose: Frozen Shoulder Syndrome (FSS) frequently occurs in association with Dupuytren’s Disease (DD). Beta-catenin is a signaling pathway implicated in the pathogenesis of DD. The purpose of this study is to determine if beta-catenin is also associated with FSS.

Methods: Tissue obtained during shoulder arthroscopy for capsule release in patients with FSS was subjected to immunohistochemical staining (IHC) and Western Blot analysis. Control tissue was obtained from the rotator cuff interval from patients undergoing arthroscopy for rotator cuff syndrome.

Results: IHC analysis showed that the vast majority of cells within lesions expressed b-catenin while cells within marginal tissue stained weakly for b-catenin. Western blotting analysis of FSS specimens showed that lesional tissues expressed increasing amounts of b-catenin compared to RCS tissue.

Conclusions: Beta-catenin expression is upregulated in FSS. The current lack of knowledge about the biochemical mechanisms of FSS coupled with the limited therapeutic intervention available emphasizes the need for a better understanding of the basic biology of this fibrosing disorder.

Funding : Educational Grant from the Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation.