Isolated Glenohumeral Corticosteroid Injection Versus Concomitant Capsule Preserving Hydrodilatation

A single-centre, double-blinded, prospective randomised controlled trial involving patients diagnosed with adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder (AC).

Patients were randomly allocated to either corticosteroid injection with hydrodilatation (group CSHD) or corticosteroid injection only (group CS).

For the CS group, a solution of 1 mL triamcinolone (40mg) and 4 mL 1% lidocaine, 5 mL in total, was injected intraarticularly through the posterior approach using ultrasound guidance.

The CSHD group received an injection of 20 mL with 15 mL of normal saline added to the abovementioned 5 mL solution. The dilatation of the joint capsule was confirmed by the increase in distance between the capsule and the humeral head.

Patients underwent the following assessments just before the injection, and at post-injection three weeks, seven weeks, three months, and six months.

Range of motion in forward elevation, external rotation, and internal rotation Clinical scores include the pain visual analogue scale (pVAS), the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, and the Constant-Murley score.

Subjective patient satisfaction was recorded on a scale from 0 to 100, with 100 being the most satisfied.

The recorded data were compared within each group before and after the injection, and also between the groups.

Inclusion criteria

Two or more of the following criteria within the shoulder's range of motion:

• Abduction and forward elevation below 100˚
• External rotation at the side below 30˚
• Internal rotation at 90˚ of abduction below 30˚

Exclusion criteria

• History of shoulder surgery, trauma, nerve injury
• Concomitant rotator cuff/biceps lesions in ultrasound or MRI
• Glenohumeral arthritis in simple X-ray
• Calcific tendinosis in simple X-ray
• Underlying conditions: cancer, mental illness, hormonal imbalance
• Diabetes with HbA1c levels exceeding 7.0%