No, arthrofibrosis is typically diagnosed by the symptoms and by ruling out other possible causes, such as a misplaced or loose prothesis or a fracture. Needle aspiration to test the synovial fluid for infection is also often done, since this cause of arthrofibrosis needs to be treated in a specific way with antibiotics. Surgery to obtain a biopsy is considered too invasive because the surgery it will create more inflammation and scar tissue. However, if surgery is performed to release adhesions then a biopsy can be taken at the same time, and analysed.
The evidence suggests that there are two forms of arthrofibrosis, the active, inflammatory form where there are active myofibroblasts, and a residual form, where the inflammation has resolved and the myofibroblasts (the cells that create scar tissue) have gone, but scar tissue remains, restricting ROM for some time. Residual shoulder arthrofibrosis is sometimes referred to as the "thawing" stage. Mature scar tissue can a long time for the body to break down in residual arthrofibrosis, but so long as there are no additional insults, such as surgery, ROM should gradually improve.
If the joint is a little warm and puffy, and there is pain, then it's likely that there is active arthrofibrosis (assuming other causes are ruled out).
Danke
Kayley
Hi Anita,
Thanks for your question, I hope English is OK.
No, arthrofibrosis is typically diagnosed by the symptoms and by ruling out other possible causes, such as a misplaced or loose prothesis or a fracture. Needle aspiration to test the synovial fluid for infection is also often done, since this cause of arthrofibrosis needs to be treated in a specific way with antibiotics. Surgery to obtain a biopsy is considered too invasive because the surgery it will create more inflammation and scar tissue. However, if surgery is performed to release adhesions then a biopsy can be taken at the same time, and analysed.
The evidence suggests that there are two forms of arthrofibrosis, the active, inflammatory form where there are active myofibroblasts, and a residual form, where the inflammation has resolved and the myofibroblasts (the cells that create scar tissue) have gone, but scar tissue remains, restricting ROM for some time. Residual shoulder arthrofibrosis is sometimes referred to as the "thawing" stage. Mature scar tissue can a long time for the body to break down in residual arthrofibrosis, but so long as there are no additional insults, such as surgery, ROM should gradually improve.
If the joint is a little warm and puffy, and there is pain, then it's likely that there is active arthrofibrosis (assuming other causes are ruled out).
Please feel free to ask more questions.
Kayley