Methods for Treating Adhesive Capsulitis

Abstract

The invention relates to the discovery that collagenase injections are effective in lyse the collagenous adhesions in the shoulder and treat the disorder, adhesive capsulitis. As such, the invention relates to methods of treating or preventing adhesive capsulitis, or frozen shoulder, in a patient in need of such treatment comprising injecting or otherwise delivering an effective amount of collagenase to the collagenous adhesions in the shoulder. The invention also relates to the use of collagenase in the manufacture of a medicament to treat adhesive capsulitis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating or preventing adhesive capsulitis in a subject in need of such treatment comprising delivering an effective amount of collagenase to collagenous adhesions in the shoulder. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the collagenase is derived from  Clostridium histolyticum.    
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the collagenase is injected in a dose comprising at least about 700 SRC units. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the collagenase is injected in a volume of less than 0.5 ml. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the collagenase comprises collagenase I and collagenase II. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the injection is delivered in a single injection between the interval of the deltoid and pectoral muscles. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the subject is a human patient. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the patient is characterized by an active forward elevation of only 90 degrees and an active external rotation of less than 50 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein after one month of receiving at least one administration of collagenase, the patient achieves an active external rotation of greater than 15°, as compared to baseline.