Adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder in male cardiac surgery patients.

Two hundred fourteen consecutive male cardiac surgery patients were retrospectively evaluated for the incidence of adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder and were assessed for risk factors. Only male patients were included, as the study took place at a Veteran's hospital. Patients who had no shoulder problems prior to cardiac surgery and were experiencing shoulder pain or stiffness postoperatively underwent history, physical examination, and radiographic studies. Thirty-five patients who had shoulder complaints were identified and evaluated. A 3.3% incidence (seven patients) of adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder in a male post-cardiac surgery population was established.