Bilateral Simultaneous Frozen Shoulder: A Possible Adverse Event of the Folfox Chemotherapy Regime?

Abstract

A 51-year-old female underwent an uncomplicated resection of a sigmoid adenocarcinoma. Postoperatively, 12 cycles of the FOLFOX chemotherapy regime were completed, consisting of a combination of folinic acid, 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin over a 24 week period. Following chemotherapy, the patient developed simultaneous adhesive capsulitis in both shoulder joints, as radiologically confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. Bilateral adhesive capsulitis is rare and usually associated with a systemic cause. This case highlights a possible previously unreported association between the widely used FOLFOX chemotherapy regime and bilateral adhesive capsulitis. Oncologists and orthopaedic surgeons should be aware of such presentations in FOLFOX patients to facilitate prompt investigation and management.