Transcatheter Arterial Embolization Using Nexsphere-F for Chronic Shoulder Pain Refractory to Conservative Treatment

Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial embolization using 'Nexsphere-F' for pain relief in patients with adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder joint that does not respond to conservative treatment.

This study aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial embolization using embolic agents in patients with adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder joint. This is a single-center, prospective, open-label, randomized clinical trial.

Pain levels will be assessed via outpatient visits or telephone interviews at baseline (pre-procedure), and at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months post-procedure. During outpatient visits, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) score, shoulder range of motion (ROM), and the patient's subjective satisfaction (satisfied or not) will be recorded. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the shoulder joint will be performed both before the procedure and at 6 months post-procedure in both the control and intervention groups for comparative evaluation.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients who have voluntarily signed a written informed consent form after receiving an explanation of the purpose, methods, and potential effects of the clinical trial

• Patients aged between 19 and 85 years

• Patients with pain persisting for more than 3 months in the affected area and with a history of receiving physical therapy, analgesics/anti-inflammatory medications, or local injection treatments

• Patients with a measured shoulder joint range of motion (ROM) of less than 90 degrees ⑤ Patients who agree not to receive any conservative treatment other than those permitted in this clinical trial (physical therapy, medication [NSAIDs, opioid analgesics, acetaminophen], intra-articular injections such as hyaluronic acid)

• Patients who are willing to comply with the treatment and procedures of the clinical trial and participate in all follow-up evaluations through hospital visits or telephone surveys

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with a history of surgery on the shoulder joint targeted for the clinical trial prior to screening

• Patients suspected of having a full-thickness rotator cuff tear

• Patients with bleeding disorders or coagulopathies (e.g., idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, hemophilia, disseminated intravascular coagulation)

• Patients with advanced atherosclerosis or vasospasm in the arm vessels, or those expected to have such conditions

• Patients with a known hypersensitivity to gelatin

⑥ Patients with a known hypersensitivity to contrast media

⑦ Patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding

⑧ Patients with a localized infection at the pain site

⑨ Patients deemed inappropriate for participation by the investigator due to ethical concerns or potential impact on the clinical trial results