Adhesive Capsulitis Embolization (ACE) for Frozen Shoulder
Frozen Shoulder, or Adhesive Capsulitis, is a painful condition when the joint capsule becomes thick, stiff, and inflamed. The pain and thickening also leads to limited mobility of the shoulder joint.
The inflammation that contributes to the pain and capsule thickening is caused by abnormal and increased blood flow with new vessels, or hypervascularity, to the joint capsule. Adhesive Capsulitis Embolization (ACE) is a minimally invasive procedure that injects microspheres into the abnormal vessels, reducing the increased blood flow, and therefore disrupting the pain-inflammation cycle. Restoring normal blood flow to the capsule has been shown to reduce pain and restore motion to the shoulder.
The ACE Procedure
- Small needle puncture made into a blood vessel at the wrist
- Microcatheter guided into the blood vessels that supply the inflamed part of the shoulder
- Microscopic beads are injected into the areas with abnormal vessels and hypervascularity, reducing the excessive flow that is causing pain and inflammation
- Normal blood flow to the shoulder and its surrounding tissue remains intact after procedure
The ACE Procedure – What to Expect
- Performed under twilight sleep
- Relatively painless
- Procedure lasts about one hour
The ACE Procedure – Advantages
- No surgical incision, manipulation or injection into the shoulder joint
- Typically return to work within a day or two without the need for a lengthy recovery
- Very low complication rate without any effect on future shoulder treatments
- Symptom improvement usually within 3-4 weeks
Could Adhesive Capsulitis Embolization be right for you?
You can also contact the IR Center directly at miu@ircenters.com or 947-999-8244.
