Axillary nerve injury after thermal capsular shrinkage of the shoulder

The purpose of this study was to evaluate 4 cases in which axillary nerve i njury wets observed after radiofrequency capsular shrinkage of the shoulder . These cases were used to evaluate the clinical circumstances under which axillary nerve injury occurred the time frame over which these injuries rec overed, and the ultimate outcome observed in these patients. The case histo ries of each of these 4 patients were carefully evaluated in 2 of the 4 cas es, purely sensory findings were found, and in 2 cases both sensory and mot or injuries occurred In each case the inferior axillary recess was treated using the Oratech Interventions Tac-S probe. The authors conclude that inju ry to the axillary nerve during this procedure is possible and postulate th at heat penetration through the capsule to the nerve is the most likely cau se of injury.