• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.57-61
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• 2008

Background: Shoulder joint injection is currently performed under fluoroscopic or computed tomography scan guidance. We performed this study to determine if an ultrasound guided shoulder joint injection through rotator cuff interval would have clinical usefulness. Methods: A total of 17 volunteers [12 women, 5 men; mean age 28 yr (23-32 yr)] received shoulder joint injection under multilinear ultrasound (5-10 MHz). Volunteers were positioned supinely on a table with their arm in a neutral position. The anterior shoulder region of the patient was sterilized using povidone iodine. A 24 gauge needle was introduced and directly visualized in real time as it passed obliquely from the skin surface to the inferior space of the biceps tendon. If there was little or no resistance to the injection, a contrast media (omnipaque) was injected and checked fluoroscopically. Results: Ultrasound guided shoulder joint injection through rotator cuff interval was successful in all cases. The average time taken for the procedure was $27.5{\pm}16.5sec$. The vertical distance from skin to the inferior space of the biceps tendon was $1.6{\pm}0.4cm$ and the distance of needle from the skin to the inferior space of biceps tendon was $2.8{\pm}0.6cm$. The procedure was well tolerated by all volunteers. Conclusions: Ultrasound guided shoulder joint injection through rotator cuff interval is an effective, rapid, and easy-to-perform injection technique. Ultrasound guided injection enables exact needle placement and avoids the use of both ionizing radiation and iodinated contrast material.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.226-229
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• 1998

Background: Treatment for frozen shoulder is various and difficult. It is important for pain clinicians to plan more effective and simpler treatment modalities. Pain clinicians have done suprascapular nerve block(SSNB) for treatment of frozen shoulder, but the effectiveness of treatment has been unsatisfactory. Shoulder joint injection(SJI) using local anesthetics and steroid mixture is a relatively simple procedure. This study was performed to compare therapeutic effects of SSNB and SJI in frozen shoulder. Methods: Eighty patients suffering from frozen shoulder were randomly divided into two groups. Group 1 had been treated with SSNB and physiotherapy for 3 weeks. Group 2 had been treated with SJI and physiotherapy for the same duration. Pain scores and treatment results were compared and analyzed at the time of 2 months after treatment started. Results: The VAS scores after SJI were lower than those of SSNB. Therapeutic results according to Haggart's classifications were significantly effective in group 2. Conclusion: These results show that SJI is more effective than SSNB for treatment of frozen shoulder.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.120-127
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• 2015

Background: We prospectively compared the response to blind and ultrasound-guided glenohumeral injection of corticosteroids for treatment of shoulder stiffness. Methods: A total of 77 patients with shoulder stiffness between April 2008 and March 2012 were recruited. Patients were randomized to receive either a blind (group 1, n=39) or ultrasound-guided (group 2, n=38) glenohumeral injection of 40 mg triamcinolone. The clinical outcomes and shoulder range of motion (ROM) before injection, at 3, 6, and 12 months after injection and at the last follow-up were assessed. The same rehabilitation program was applied in both groups during the follow-up period. Results: There was no significant difference in demographic data on age, sex, ROM, and symptom duration before injection between groups (p>0.05). There were no significant differences in ROM including forward flexion, external rotation at the side, external rotation at $90^{\circ}$ abduction, and internal rotation, visual analogue scale for pain and functional outcomes including American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, Simple Shoulder test between the two groups at any time point (p>0.05). Conclusions: Based on the current data, the result of ultrasound-guided glenohumeral injection was not superior to that of blind injection in the treatment of shoulder stiffness. We suggest that ultrasound-guided glenohumeral injection could be performed according to the patient's compliance and the surgeon's preference. Once familiar with the non-imaging-guided glenohumeral injection, it is an efficient and reliable method for the experienced surgeon. Ultrasound could be performed according to the surgeon's preference.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.48-55
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• 2023

Objective: The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) and injection therapy through qualitative and quantitative analysis by synthesizing randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted on patients with various shoulder diseases. Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials Methods: This review conducted a literature search through international electronic databases in January 2023 to compare the effects of ESWT and injection therapy. Qualitative analysis was performed as a risk of bias tool, and quantitative analysis was synthesized with a random effect model to show the effect size as a standardized mean difference (SMD). Results: Five RCTs involving 298 individuals with shoulder disorders were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. ESWT showed a moderate effect on pain (SMD=-0.44; 95% CI, -0.95 to 0.06) and a large effect on shoulder function (SMD =-0.81; 95% CI, -1.70 to 0.07) than injection therapy. A significant difference was found in the shoulder range of motion, showing a large effect size (SMD=1.50; 95% CI, 0.58 to 2.43). Conclusions: When considering treatment options for the management of patients complaining of shoulder disorders, it is appropriate to recommend ESWT first rather than injection therapy to increase the range of motion of the joint. In addition, ESWT is safe for pain control and shoulder function improvement, and a positive prognosis could be expected.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.45-51
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• 2024

Background: It is essential to distinguish between symptomatic- and asymptomatic radiographic acromioclavicular (AC) osteoarthritis (OA) because AC-targeted physical examinations are dubious. This study aimed to determine the diagnostic value of a preoperative AC injection in discriminating between symptomatic- and asymptomatic radiographic AC OA based on patient arthroscopic distal clavicle resection (aDCR) outcomes. Methods: Forty-eight patients who underwent aDCR for AC OA were included. Their satisfaction was objectified using a 5-point Likert scale and patient willingness to repeat the surgery. The Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS), the Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV), and the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) were used to assess postoperative shoulder function and pain. Patients were subdivided into groups based on their good or minimal reaction to an AC injection (good reaction: ≥7 consecutive days of pain reduction, Minimal reaction: <7 consecutive days of pain reduction). Results: Twenty-seven patients had a good reaction and 21 patients had a minimal reaction to the AC injection (median follow-up, 45.0 months; range, 31.0-52.8 months). No significant differences were found in level of satisfaction (P=0.234) or willingness to repeat the surgery (P=0.861). No significant differences were found in OSS (P=0.612), SSV (P=0.641), NRS at rest (P=0.684) or during activity (P=0.422). Conclusions: This study found no significant differences between patients with a good reaction or a minimal reaction to an AC injection after aDCR surgery. The outcomes of this study seem to suggest that a distinction between symptomatic and asymptomatic radiographic AC OA is unnecessary, as all patients were equally satisfied with the outcome.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.93-97
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• 2012

Complex regional pain syndrome type 1(CRPS 1) is a neuropathic pain disorder that accompanies severe pain and motor deficit as well as changes in the skin in the extremities. The pathophysiology of CRPS 1 is still not exactly elucidated. However, the general consensus of involvement of inflammatory mediators in the development of CRPS 1 is amply made. On the basis that placental extract successfully inhibited the production of inflammatory cytokines and mediators in several experimental models, we have tried a long-term weekly injection of placental extract into acupuncture points to a CRPS 1 patient suffering pain and immobilization of shoulder joint. The results say that placental extract effectively resolved pain, restored skin color and improved immobilization of shoulder joint in the CRPS 1 patient.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.105-108
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• 1996

Localized or radiating pain in the arm and shoulder joint may result after faulty alignment causing compression or tension on nerves, blood vessels, or supporting soft tissues. The critical site of faulty alignment is the quadrangular space in the axilla bounded by the teres major, teres minor, long head of triceps, and humerus. The axillary nerve emerges through this space to supply the deltoid and teres minor. The activity of the trigger point on teres minor compressing the axillary nerve causes pain to develop through the area of sensory distribution of cutaneous branch of the axillary nerve. Relieving compression on the axillary nerve and suprascapular nerve is the key point to relieving the pain. Spasm of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus compressing the suprascapular nerve caused pain to develop in the shoulder joint and scapular area. We treated those patients experiencing such pain with local anesthetic infiltration or I-R laser stimulation on the identified trigger points.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.393-401
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• 2019

The shoulder pain is one of the most common problems to orthopaedic surgeons in clinic. Among therapeutic modality used to manage this pain, joint and periarticular injection, as well as suprascapular nerve block, show good clinical outcome. Ultrasound guidance is a safe technique, increasing the safety and accuracy of the procedure and reducing complications. An accurate understanding of the surface anatomy is important in performing the ultrasound-guided shoulder injections. This article aims to describe the surface anatomy and sono anatomy of both the shoulder and the surrounding structures and also summarize different infiltration techniques and peripheral nerve blocks.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.175-181
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• 2023

Background: Acromioclavicular (AC) osteoarthritis (OA) is a frequent pathology of the shoulder in elderly patients. Drug injection plays an important role in treatment of AC OA. Literature has demonstrated excellent short-term results regarding shoulder function and pain. However, mid- to long-term results are lacking. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a single intra-articular AC injection in patients with AC OA and to identify predictive factors for success. Methods: A retrospective study was performed to analyze success rate, shoulder function, and pain perception after a single intra-articular injection in patients with AC OA. Success was defined as the absence of reinterventions such as additional injection or surgery. Outcome measures were 1-year success rate and clinical outcome scores of Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for pain, Oxford Shoulder Score, and Subjective Shoulder Value. Results: Ninety-eight patients participated in this study. At a median final follow-up of 0.8 years (interquartile range, 0-6), 57 of these patients (58%) had undergone a reintervention. The 1-year success rate was 47% (95% confidence interval, 37%-57%), with NRS at rest as the sole factor significantly associated with success. Thirty patients not requiring reintervention reported significant improvement from baseline for all reported outcome measures at final follow-up. Conclusions: AC injections offer a 1-year success rate of 47%. The AC injection produces good mid- to long-term clinical outcomes regarding shoulder function, quality of life, and pain perception in one-third of patients. Further research is essential to analyze mid- to long-term outcomes of AC injections.

• The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2014

Purpose: In order to know the effectiveness of ultrasonographic examination in diagnosis and follow-up evaluation for the frozen shoulder, we compared those with contralateral side in initial and after steroid injection. Materials and Methods: For the 20 unilateral frozen shoulder from July 2012 to July 2013, ultrasonographic examination was tried using reference line 1 (CBT: distance from coracoid process to LHB tendon) and line 2 (CBG: distance from coracoid process to bicipital groove). We tried 1 time steroid injection and compared the improvement in gross motion and reference line with 2 month, 4 month, and 6 month's serial ultrasonographic examination. Results: The differences on CBT line between lesion side and normal side were -5.6 mm, -5.0 mm, and -4.3 mm in neutral (Neut), external rotation (ER) and internal rotation (IR), respectively. The differences on CBG line were -6.1 mm, -4.7 mm, and -5.0 mm respectively (p<0.05). The changes in the reference line after steroid injection were evaluated at 2 month (CBT: -4.8 mm, -3.5 mm, -2.6 mm / CBG: -4.7 mm, -4.0 mm, -3.6 mm), 4 month (CBT: -4.7 mm, -3.2 mm, -1.7 mm / CBG: -4.3 mm, -3.7 mm, -1.2 mm), and 6 month (CBT: -1.1 mm, -2.9 mm, -0.5 mm / CBG: -1.2 mm, -0.7 mm, -0.9 mm). The gross motion was improved at 4 month after injection, from elevation $108^{\circ}$, ER $32^{\circ}$, IR L5 in initial to $133^{\circ}$, $42^{\circ}$, L3 respectively (p<0.05). Pain improved from 7.5 in initial to 3.0 at 2 month on visual analog scale (VAS). Conclusion: The serial examination after steroid injection revealed that the delayed improvement on reference line (6 month) compared with pain (2 month) or gross motion (4 month). Dynamic ultrasonogram was useful in diagnosis and follow-up evaluation of frozen shoulder.