Lippmann (1943) supported many of Codman's observations,
but argued that periarthritis or frozen shoulder resulted from
inflammation of the long head of biceps tendon that eventuated in
firm adhesions of the tendon to the bicipital sheath and bicipital
groove. On the basis of intra-operative findings in 12 people,
Lippmann argued the condition should be called bicipital tenosynovitis
and clinically should be regarded as being similar to de
Quervain's disease.Soon after this and based on a case series of 10 patients and
observations of inflammation, fibrosis and contraction of the
shoulder capsule, and with the axillary fold becoming ‘adherent’ to
the humeral head, Neviaser (1945) suggested the term adhesive
capsulitis better described the pathology. The adhesion was
described as being similar to that of an adhesive plaster applied to
the skin. Rotation and manipulation of the humerus was advocated
to separate the adherent capsule from the humeral head. Later
evidence suggested that thickening and contracture of the glenohumeral
joint capsule was associated with frozen shoulder, without
adhesions to the humerus (Wiley, 1991). Capsular adhesions have
also not been reported in other investigations (Uitvlugt et al., 1993;
Bunker and Anthony, 1995). The term adhesive capsulitis appears
not to appropriately describe the condition and arguably should be
abandoned.