Ultrasound-Guided Hydrodilatation of the Shoulder Capsule at the Rotator Interval: Technical Tips and Tricks

Adhesive capsulitis: the importance of early diagnosis and treatment

BACKGROUND

Adhesive capsulitis (AC), more commonly known as "frozen shoulder", is a painful shoulder condition. The illness progresses through three phases: freezing, frozen and thawing. A gold standard treatment for adhesive capsulitis is not defined. The goal of any treatment is to reduce pain and restore shoulder movement.

OBJECTIVE

Objective of the present study is to evaluate the efficacy of gleno-humeral hydrodistension associated with physical therapy in patients with diagnosed adhesive capsulitis comparing the outcomes in term of pain and range of motion in patients with a phase 1 and a phase 2 disease.

METHOD

Between January 2022 and April 2023, We evaluated 87 patients with adhesive capsulitis, 47 were excluded for others concomitant pathologies, finally 40 patients were enrolled for the study, of whom 23 had capsulitis in stage 1 and 17 in stage 2. Patients were evaluated at baseline and at 2, 4 and 6 months after infiltration recording range of motion in all planes, pain and functionality scores.

RESULTS

A significant improvement was recorded in shoulder range of motion in all planes with the except of extension in both groups. Phase 2 patients were able to regain shoulder range of motion in all planes except internal rotation which was recovered with more difficulty. Pain and functionality scores improved significantly between baseline and follow-up visits.

CONCLUSION

Ultrasound-assisted hydrodistention of the glenohumeral joint combined with targeted exercise has been successful in improving pain relief, reducing disability, and increasing range of motion in subjects with stage 1 and 2 adhesive capsulitis, especially if diagnosed before phase 2 (when the range of motion is completely reduced).

Long-Term Outcomes of Ultrasound-Guided Hydrodistension for Adhesive Capsulitis: A Prospective Observational Study

Ultrasound-guided hydrodistention has been established as an effective minimally invasive treatment option for glenohumeral joint adhesive capsulitis (AC). Nonetheless, the long-term outcomes of the procedure have not yet been established. A total of 202 patients with AC were prospectively recruited and followed up for a total of 2 years. Pain and functionality were assessed with the use of the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) score, respectively, at the beginning and the end of the follow-up period. The relapse of AC over the 2-year period and the effect of diabetes were also evaluated in the treatment cohort. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare mean scores at the two time points, and Cox survival analysis and χ2 test were used to assess the effect of diabetes on AC relapse. VAS and DASH scores were significantly lower at 2 years compared with the beginning of the follow-up period (p < 0.001). Diabetes was diagnosed in 38/202 patients (18.8%) and was found to be significantly associated with recurrence of the disease (p < 0.001). In conclusion, in this observational study, we have demonstrated that ultrasound-guided hydrodistention is linked to excellent long-term outcomes for the treatment of AC, which are significantly worse in patients with diabetes.

Ultrasound-Guided Infiltrative Treatment Associated with Early Rehabilitation in Adhesive Capsulitis Developed in Post-COVID-19 Syndrome

Background and Objectives: Post-COVID-19 syndrome is commonly used to describe signs and symptoms that continue or develop after acute COVID-19 for more than 12 weeks. The study aimed to evaluate a treatment strategy in patients with adhesive capsulitis (phase 1) developed in post-COVID-19 syndrome. Materials and Methods: The method used was an interventional pilot study in which 16 vaccinated patients presenting with the clinical and ultrasound features of adhesive capsulitis (phase 1) developed during post-COVID-19 syndrome were treated with infiltrative hydrodistension therapy under ultrasound guidance associated with early rehabilitation treatment. Results: Sixteen patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome treated with ultrasound-guided infiltration and early rehabilitation treatment showed an important improvement in active joint ROM after 10 weeks, especially in shoulder elevation and abduction movements. The VAS mean score before the treatment was 6.9 ± 1.66. After 10 weeks of treatment, the VAS score was 1 ± 0.63. Conclusions: The study demonstrated that the management of adhesive capsulitis (phase 1) developed in post-COVID-19 syndrome, as conducted by physiotherapists in a primary care setting using hydrodistension and a rehabilitation protocol, represented an effective treatment strategy.

Clinical/Sonographic Assessment and Management of Calcific Tendinopathy of the Shoulder: A Narrative Review

Shoulder disorders are very common in clinical practice. Among several other pathologies, calcific tendinopathy of the rotator cuff tendons is frequently observed during the ultrasound examination of patients with painful shoulder. The deposition of hydroxyapatite calcium crystals should not be considered as a static process but rather a dynamic pathological process with different/possible patterns of migration. In this paper, we have illustrated how and where these calcium depositions can migrate from the rotator cuff tendons to the peri-articular soft tissues. We have also tried to discuss the issue from the clinical side, i.e., how these particular conditions might impact the specific diagnosis, appropriate rehabilitation plan or interventional approach for optimal functional recovery.

Assessing/Imaging the Subcoracoid Space: From Anatomy to Dynamic Sonography

In the pertinent literature, standardized sonographic protocols have been widely described to evaluate the different compartments of the shoulder. However, the subcoracoid space is a complex anatomical region-usually not included/described in basic ultrasound approaches. Accordingly, starting from its anatomy, we describe a two-phase dynamic ultrasound protocol to scan the subcoracoid space. This way, we aim to optimize the diagnosis and management of patients with anterior shoulder pain and subcoracoid effusion.

Glenohumeral Hydrodistension for Postoperative Stiffness After Arthroscopic Primary Rotator Cuff Repair

Background:

Postoperative stiffness is a known complication after rotator cuff repair (RCR). Glenohumeral hydrodistension (GH) has been a treatment modality for shoulder pathology but has not been used to treat postoperative stiffness after RCR.

Purpose/Hypothesis:

The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors for postoperative stiffness after RCR and review outcomes after treatment with GH. Our hypotheses were that stiffness would be associated with diabetes and hyperlipidemia and correlated with the tendons involved and that patients with stiffness who underwent GH would have significant improvement in range of motion (ROM).

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

Included were 388 shoulders of patients who underwent primary RCR by a single surgeon between 2015 and 2019. Shoulders with revision RCRs were excluded. Patient characteristics, medical comorbidities, and perioperative details were collected. A total of 40 shoulders with postoperative stiffness (10.3%) received GH injectate of a 21-mL mixture (15 mL of sterile water, 5 mL of 0.5% ropivacaine, and 1 mL of triamcinolone [10 mg/mL]). The primary outcome measure was ROM in forward flexion, internal rotation, external rotation, and abduction. Statistical tests were performed using analysis of variance.

Results:

Patients with diabetes had significantly decreased internal rotation at final follow-up after RCR as compared with patients without diabetes. GH to treat stiffness was performed most commonly between 1 and 4 months after RCR (60%), and patients who received GH saw statistically significant improvements in forward flexion, external rotation, and abduction after the procedure. Patients with hyperlipidemia had the most benefit after GH. Among those undergoing concomitant procedures, significantly more patients who had open subpectoral biceps tenodesis underwent GH. Patients who underwent subscapularis repair or concomitant subacromial decompression had significant improvement in ROM after GH. Only 1 patient who received GH underwent secondary surgery for resistant postoperative stiffness.

Conclusion:

Patients with diabetes had increased stiffness. Patients with a history of hyperlipidemia or concomitant open subpectoral biceps tenodesis were more likely to undergo GH for postoperative stiffness. Patients who underwent subscapularis repair demonstrated the most improvement in ROM after GH. After primary RCR, GH can increase ROM and is a useful adjunct for patients with stiffness to limit secondary surgery.

Ultrasound-Guided Hydrodilatation With Triamcinolone Acetonide for Adhesive Capsulitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing the Posterior Glenohumeral Recess and the Rotator Cuff Interval Approaches

For patients with adhesive capsulitis, hydrodilatation is typically performed using corticosteroids with ultrasound guidance via the posterior glenohumeral recess. Recently, a new intervention technique via the rotator cuff interval has been described. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of hydrodilatation with triamcinolone acetonide via the posterior glenohumeral recess and the rotator cuff interval in patients with adhesive capsulitis. This prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted in a tertiary care center with a follow-up period of 12 weeks. We enrolled 64 patients diagnosed with shoulder adhesive capsulitis. The subjects were randomly assigned to two groups that received hydrodilatation with corticosteroids either through the posterior glenohumeral recess or though the rotator cuff interval. The injection contained 4 ml of triamcinolone acetonide (40 mg) mixed with 4 ml of 2% lidocaine hydrochloride and 12 ml of normal saline. The shoulder pain and disability index, visual analog scale for pain, and range of motion were analyzed before and at 6 and 12 weeks after the treatment. Both groups experienced improvements in the visual analog scale scores, shoulder pain and disability index scores, and range of motion throughout the study period. A significant group-time interaction was observed in terms of the visual analog scale for pain during motion (p = 0.019), favoring hydrodilatation through the rotator cuff interval. Thus, hydrodilatation through the rotator cuff interval might be a better treatment option than that through the posterior glenohumeral recess for patients with adhesive capsulitis, considering its superior effect in alleviating pain during shoulder movement.