Article

The aims of the study were to assess the overall reduction of pain in
patients undergoing ultrasound-guided shoulder injections and to characterize the
preinjection point-of-care ultrasound findings and use of clinical services
postinjection including the use of magnetic resonance imaging and surgeries.
DESIGN: Data of 172 patients who underwent ultrasound-guided subacromial
subdeltoid injection or glenohumeral joint injection were reviewed for
preinjection point-of-care ultrasound findings, change in pain intensity at 2 mos
from baseline, and use of care at 6 mos' postinjection. Pain intensity was
measured by the numeric rating scale and a dichotomous report of global
impression of significant improvement in pain. Responders were defined as those
with 50% or more reduction in numeric rating scale or those with global
impression of 50% or more improvement. RESULTS: There were 141 responders among
the 172 patients analyzed. Full-thickness rotator cuff tears were higher in the
ultrasound-guided subacromial subdeltoid injection group when compared with the
glenohumeral joint injection group (P = 0.038) and abnormal bicipital tendon
findings higher in the glenohumeral joint injection group (P = 0.016). There were
no significant differences in specific abnormal U findings between responders
versus nonresponders. Twelve patients had a shoulder magnetic resonance imaging
and four patients underwent operative interventions after the injection.
CONCLUSIONS: Overall pain reduction after ultrasound-guided shoulder injections
was favorable in the short term. There was no specific preinjection point-of-care
ultrasound findings associated with clinical pain reduction after injection.
Additional imaging and operative intervention after ultrasound-guided shoulder
injections seemed to be relatively low.

Langue : ANGLAIS