Adhesion (medicine)
| Adhesion (medicine) | |
| MedlinePlus | 001493 |
|---|---|
Editor-in-Chief: Areej Tariq
Overview
Adhesions are abnormal bands of tissue that grow in the human body. They may be thought of as internal scar tissue. In the case of frozen shoulder (also known as adhesive capsulitis) adhesions grow between the shoulder joint surfaces, restricting motion.
Abdominal adhesions are most commonly caused by abdominal surgical procedures. Endometriosis is also another cause of abdominal adhesions. These adhesions may grow over time and become attached to the walls of the abdomen, as well as to internal organs. The adhesions may cause internal organs to attach to one another as well.
One common complication of abdominal adhesions is intestinal obstruction, in which an adhesion wraps around an intestine and prevents the flow of material through the digestive tract. Depending on the severity of the obstruction, a partial obstruction may relieve itself without medical intervention. However, many obstructions, if left untreated, may result in death. It is important that in the event that an obstruction occurs, the affected individual seek medical treatment immediately. For complete obstructions, or partial obstructions that do not relieve themselves within 24 hours, surgical intervention may be required to remove the adhesion(s) via adhesiolysis. It may take months or years for adhesions to cause an obstruction post-surgery.
Causes
Common Causes
Causes by Organ System
| Cardiovascular | Pericarditis |
| Chemical/Poisoning | No underlying causes |
| Dental | No underlying causes |
| Dermatologic | No underlying causes |
| Drug Side Effect | No underlying causes |
| Ear Nose Throat | No underlying causes |
| Endocrine | Fascioloides magna |
| Environmental | No underlying causes |
| Gastroenterologic | Abdominal surgery, Bowel obstruction, Crohn's disease, Helicobacter pylori, Laparotomy, Peritonitis, |
| Genetic | No underlying causes |
| Hematologic | No underlying causes |
| Iatrogenic | Herniorrhaphy, Laparotomy, Organ xenotransplantation, Peritonitis, Surgical recovery, |
| Infectious Disease | Fascioloides magna, Infection, Peritonitis, Uterine infection, |
| Musculoskeletal/Orthopedic | Shoulder pain |
| Neurologic | No underlying causes |
| Nutritional/Metabolic | No underlying causes |
| Obstetric/Gynecologic | Caesarean section, Endometriosis, Intrauterine pressure, Uterine infection, |
| Oncologic | Colorectal cancer, Desmoplasia, Helicobacter pylori, |
| Ophthalmologic | Essential iris atrophy |
| Overdose/Toxicity | No underlying causes |
| Psychiatric | No underlying causes |
| Pulmonary | Pleurisy |
| Renal/Electrolyte | No underlying causes |
| Rheumatology/Immunology/Allergy | No underlying causes |
| Sexual | No underlying causes |
| Trauma | Surgical recovery |
| Urologic | No underlying causes |
| Miscellaneous | No underlying causes |
Causes in Alphabetical Order
- Abdominal surgery
- Bowel obstruction
- Caesarean section
- Colorectal cancer
- Crohn's disease
- Desmoplasia
- Endometriosis
- Essential iris atrophy
- Fascioloides magna
- Helicobacter pylori
- Herniorrhaphy
- Infection
- Intrauterine pressure
- Laparotomy
- Organ xenotransplantation
- Pericarditis
- Peritonitis
- Pleurisy
- Shoulder pain
- Surgical recovery
- Uterine infection
External links