Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow

Korean Shoulder and Elbow Society (대한견·주관절의학회)
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Short-term Low-dose Oral Corticosteroid Therapy of Impingement Syndrome of the Shoulder: A Comparison of the Clinical Outcomes to Intra-articular Corticosteroid Injection

  • Kim, Young Bok (Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital) ;
  • Kim, Young Chang (Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital) ;
  • Kim, Ji Wan (Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital) ;
  • Lee, Sang Jin (Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital) ;
  • Lee, Sang Won (Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital) ;
  • Choi, Hong Joon (Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital) ;
  • Lee, Dong Hyun (Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital) ;
  • Kim, Joo Young (Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Inje University Busan Paik Hospital)
  • Received : 2013.08.23
  • Accepted : 2014.05.24
  • Published : 2014.06.30
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Abstract

Background: To assess the clinical outcomes of short-term oral corticosteroid therapy for impingement syndrome of the shoulder and determine whether it can be substituted as an alternative to the intra-articular injection. Methods: The clinical outcomes of the 173 patients, the oral steroid group (n=88) and the injection group (n=85), were measured at 3 weeks, 2, 4, and 6 months postoperatively. The clinical outcomes were assessed by measuring the the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) score, visual analog scale (VAS) and range of motion (ROM) at every follow-up. Any complications and recurrence rate were noted. A relationship between the treatment outcomes and factors such as demographic factors, clinical symptoms and radiographic findings were determined. Results: No difference was observed in VAS and UCLA scores between the two groups, but forward flexion and internal rotation of ROM were significantly improved in the injection group at the 2nd and 4th postoperative month (p < 0.05). At 6th postoperative month, recurrence rate of symptoms was 26% in the oral steroid group and 22% in the injection group. No major adverse effects were observed. When the clinical outcomes of the oral steroid group were compared to either demographic, clinical symptoms, or radiographic findings, UCLA score was found to be significantly low (p < 0.05) in patients with joint stiffness and UCLA score, whereas VAS score was significantly improved in patients with night pain (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Short-term low-dose oral corticosteroid therapy of impingement syndrome showed comparable clinical outcomes to intra-articular injection without any remarkable adverse effects. Low-dose oral steroids can be regarded as a partial alternative to intra-articular injection for the initial therapy of impingement syndrome of the shoulder.

Keywords

References

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