Conclusion There are many risk factors associated with developing an infection after elective shoulder surgery .
The findings of this systematic review are clinical ly relevant as it has been shown that infection after shoulder surgery results in poor patient-reported outcomes and pose a significant financial burden .
Purpose Infection is a concern after all orthopedic procedures , including shoulder surgery .
This systematic review of literature aim ed to determine risk factors for infection as well as the availability and effectiveness of measures utilized to prevent infection after elective shoulder surgery .
Association between Propionibacterium acnes and frozen shoulder: a pilot study
Background Frozen shoulder has not previously been shown to be associated with infection . The present study set out to confirm the null hypothesis that there is no relationship between infection and frozen shoulder using two modern scientific methods , extended culture and polymerase chain reaction ( PCR ) for bacterial nucleic acids . Methods A prospect i ve cohort of 10 patients undergoing arthroscopic release for stage II idiopathic frozen shoulder had  two biopsies of tissue taken from the affected shoulder joint capsule at the time of surgery , along with control biopsies of subdermal fat . The biopsies and controls were examined with extended culture and PCR for microbial nucleic acid . Results Eight of the 10 patients had positive findings on extended culture in their shoulder capsule and , in six of these , Propionibacterium acnes was present . Conclusions The findings mean that we must reject the null hypothesis that there is no relationship between infection and frozen shoulder . More studies are urgently needed to confirm or refute these findings . If they are confirmed , this could potentially lead to new and effective treatments for this common , painful and disabling condition . Could P. acnes be the Helicobacter of frozen shoulder
Conclusion There are many risk factors associated with developing an infection after elective shoulder surgery .
The findings of this systematic review are clinical ly relevant as it has been shown that infection after shoulder surgery results in poor patient-reported outcomes and pose a significant financial burden .
Purpose Infection is a concern after all orthopedic procedures , including shoulder surgery .
This systematic review of literature aim ed to determine risk factors for infection as well as the availability and effectiveness of measures utilized to prevent infection after elective shoulder surgery .