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.

Purpose: Methylrosaniline, more commonly known as Gentian violet, is an inexpensive dye that has been used in medicine for 100 years. It has been shown, in the international literature, to have antimicrobial effects against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epider-midis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Methylrosaniline has the potential to exert an antibiotic effect while theoretically having a reduced selection pressure for resistant bacteria.

Methods: Standardized specimens consisting of Simplex P cement combined with Gentian violet, powdered tobramycin, powdered erythromycin/colistin, and no antibiotic were fashioned. These four groups were then tested against the species S. aureus, S epidermidis, and P aeruginosa using a Kirby- Bauer Agar disk diffusion test.

Results: Gentian violet showed antimicrobial activity against S aureus, S epidermidis, but not P aeruginosa. Tobramycin demonstrated activity against against all three and the preparation of erythromycin/colistin was only effective against S aureus.

Conclusions: Gentian violet demonstrates antimicrobial activity against the two most common infections in primary total joint arthroplasty.