The effectiveness of ultrasound guided hydrodistension and physiotherapy in the treatment of frozen shoulder/adhesive capsulitis in primary care: a single centre service evaluation

Transarterial Embolization for Adhesive Capsulitis of the Shoulder: Midterm Outcomes on Function and Pain Relief

PURPOSE

To determine the safety and potential effectiveness of transarterial embolization for adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This prospective study analyzed consecutive adult patients with adhesive capsulitis referred for embolization between January 2018 and May 2023 after a poor response to treatment (symptoms and limitation of motion in ≥2 axes; ≤120° flexion, ≤50° external rotation and/or internal rotation with the shoulder abducted 90°) persisting for >3 months after having completed ≥6 weeks of analgesics and physical therapy. Different types of pain and mobility were measured before embolization and 1, 3, and 6 months after embolization. Overall upper limb function (Quick Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand) and patient satisfaction were measured before and 6 months after embolization. Long-term follow-up comprised telephone interviews and clinical history reviews.

RESULTS

A total of 20 patients (12 [60%] women; median age, 50.7; interquartile ranges [IQR], 45‒55 years) were included; 6 (30%) had diabetes and 15 (75%) were off work. Median duration of symptoms before embolization was 39.4 weeks (IQR, 28‒49 weeks), and median duration of rehabilitation therapy was 12.8 weeks (IQR, 8‒16 weeks). Six months after embolization, significant improvements were observed in nocturnal pain (P = .003), pain on moving (P = .001), external rotation (P < .001), internal rotation (P < .001), active flexion (P < .001), passive flexion (P = .03), active abduction (P < .001), passive abduction (P < .001), and overall function (P < .001). Despite objective improvements, patient satisfaction was nearly unchanged. Only 1 patient experienced a mild adverse event.

CONCLUSION

Transarterial embolization is safe and potentially effective in treating adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder refractory to conventional treatment. Clinical improvements were maintained in the mid to long term.

Evidence for Combining Conservative Treatments for Adhesive Capsulitis

Background: Adhesive capsulitis, also known as frozen shoulder, is a challenge to treat clinically. Common first-line treatment options are suprascapular nerve block (SSNB), intra-articular corticosteroid (IACS) injection, hydrodilatation, and physical therapy. This literature review summarizes each of these conservative treatments and discusses the evidence base for combining treatment options for potential additive benefits to improve patient outcomes (ie, pain, range of motion [ROM], and shoulder function). Methods: The PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched using the search terms "adhesive capsulitis," "frozen shoulder," "corticosteroids," "physical therapy," "suprascapular nerve block," "hydrodilatation," and "conservative care." Pertinent articles were identified and synthesized to provide a comprehensive review of 4 common conservative treatments for adhesive capsulitis. Results: Combining SSNB with physical therapy and/or IACS injection and combining IACS injection with physical therapy have support in the literature for improving shoulder pain, ROM, and function, while hydrodilatation and physical therapy seem to offer some additive benefits for improving shoulder ROM when used as adjunct treatments for adhesive capsulitis. Conclusion: Adhesive capsulitis remains a challenge to treat clinically with much still unknown regarding treatment optimization. For the foreseeable future, first-line conservative management will continue to be the mainstay of managing adhesive capsulitis. Thus, knowing how to best use and optimize these various options-both individually and in combination-is vital for effective treatment.

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.

Ultrasound-guided hydrodistension for adhesive capsulitis: a longitudinal study on the effect of diabetes on treatment outcomes

OBJECTIVE

The effect of diabetes on adhesive capsulitis (AC) and its impact on the outcomes of ultrasound (US)-guided hydrodistension of the glenohumeral joint are still unclear. We aimed to identify predictors of US-guided hydrodistension outcomes, while assessing the performance of the method in diabetic compared to non-diabetic patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 135 patients with AC who underwent US-guided hydrodistension were prospectively included. Demographics and factors linked to chronic inflammation and diabetes were recorded and patients were followed-up for 6 months. Functionality and pain were evaluated with the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score. Statistical analysis was performed with Mann-Whitney U test, linear, and binary logistic regression.

RESULTS

Diabetes was identified in 25/135 patients (18.5%). Diabetic patients had worse DASH and VAS score at presentation (P < 0.0001) and presented with a higher grade of AC (P < 0.0001) and lower range of motion (P < 0.01) compared to non-diabetics. Higher DASH (P = 0.025) and VAS scores (P = 0.039) at presentation were linked to worse functionality at 6 months. Presence and duration of diabetes, and the number of hydrodistension repeats, correlated with worse VAS and DASH scores at 6 months. The number of procedure repeats was the only independent predictor of complete pain resolution at 6 months (OR 0.418, P = 003).

CONCLUSION

Diabetes is linked to more severe AC at presentation and worse outcomes in patients undergoing US-guided hydrodistension. In resistant cases, repeating the intervention is independently linked to worse outcomes for at least 6 months post-intervention.

Ultrasound-Guided Hydrodistension for Adhesive Capsulitis: Is There Any Adjunct Effect of Immediate Post-Procedural Manipulation Over Instructed Physical Therapy?

OBJECTIVES

To compare the additive value of immediate post-procedural manipulation versus physiotherapy, following ultrasound (US)-guided hydrodistention of the glenohumeral joint (GHJ) in patients with adhesive capsulitis (AC) and define predictors of outcome.

METHODS

Within a 19-month period, 161 consecutive patients with AC were prospectively enrolled and allocated to two groups according to treatment, based on patients' individual preferences: 1) group-I, US-guided hydrodistension plus immediate post-procedural manipulations and 2) group-II, US-guided hydrodistension plus supervised physiotherapy program. The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire and a visual analog scale (VAS) were used for clinical assessment at baseline (immediately after treatment), 1, 3, and 6 months. Comparisons were performed with Mann-Whitney U test and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Linear regression was used to identify predictors of outcome. P value <.05 defined significance.

RESULTS

GHJ hydrodistension with manipulation or physiotherapy was linked to clinical improvement at all follow-up time-points. DASH scores of group-I remained constantly lower than DASH scores of group-II at all time-points (P < .001). VAS scores were lower in group-I than group-II at 1 and 3 months (P < .001 and P = .0019, respectively). Both groups had improved to a similar degree with respect to pain at 6 months (P = .29). The performance of post-interventional manipulations was predictive of improved shoulder functionality (as assessed with DASH scores) at all time-points, while low-grade disease and milder symptoms at presentation were associated with improved short-term pain.

CONCLUSIONS

Immediate post-procedural manipulations appeared to be superior to physiotherapy following GHJ hydrodistension for AC in terms of shoulder functionality during a 6-month follow-up period. Post-interventional manipulations, the stage of AC and lower DASH and VAS scores at presentations were predictive of improved outcome.

Suprascapular nerve block is faster and as effective as hydrodistension in relieving frozen shoulder-associated pain and disability: A prospective, single-blind observational study with a follow-up of 24 weeks

Background and Aims

Hydrodistension (HD) and suprascapular nerve block (SSNB) have been shown to reduce pain and improve shoulder function in frozen shoulder (FS). The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of HD and SSNB in the treatment of idiopathic FS.

Material and Methods

This was a prospective observational study. A total of 65 patients with FS were treated with SSNB or HD. The functional outcome was evaluated by Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) score and active shoulder range of motion (ROM) measured at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks. Parametric data were analyzed using an independent sample T-test. Nonparametric data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test and Wilcoxon test. A P value less than 0.05 was considered significant.

Result

At the end of 24 weeks, the two-group improved significantly from the baseline and the improvement was comparable between the two groups. ROM also improved significantly in both groups. At 2nd week, SPADI score was significantly less in SSNB group (P < 0.05). About 43% of patients considered HD extremely painful.

Conclusion

Both HD and SSNB are almost equally effective in reducing pain and improving shoulder function. However, SSNB leads to a faster improvement.

Ultrasound-guided hydrodilatation of glenohumeral joint combined with acupotomy for treatment of frozen shoulder

BACKGROUND

Frozen shoulder (FS), also known as shoulder adhesive capsulitis, is a musculoskeletal disorder associated with pain and functional disability. There is a lack of evidence on the optimal treatment strategy for FS.

OBJECTIVE

The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of ultrasound-guided hydrodilatation of glenohumeral joint combined with acupotomy for treatment of FS.

METHODS

In this prospective randomized, double-blind, controlled study, 63 FS patients were recruited, and equally allocated to treatment group and control group. The treatment group was treated with ultrasound-guided hydrodilatation of glenohumeral joint combined with acupotomy, while the control group was only treated with ultrasound-guided hydrodilatation of glenohumeral joint. The pain and mobility of shoulder, overall efficacy and adverse reactions were evaluated 3 months after treatment.

RESULTS

At baseline, no significant difference in all characteristic value was found between the treatment group (n= 33) and control group (n= 30). Three months after operation, the joint's Active Range of Motion (AROM) and Constant-Murley Scale (CMS) scores in the experimental group were higher than those in the control group, and the coracohumeral ligament (CHL) thickness and the rate of hypoechoic thickening in rotator cuff space in the experimental group were lower than those in the control group (all P< 0.05). The amount of injection volume at the third hydrodilatation was significantly higher in the experimental group than that in the control group (15.8 ± 4.7 vs 12.2 ± 5.2, P= 0.03). After 2 times of treatment, the volume increment of glenohumeral joint Δ2 in the experimental group was greater than that in the control group (3.5 ± 1.8 vs 1.2 ± 1.6, P< 0.001). There were significant differences in the effective rate between the two groups (93.94% vs. 76.67%, P= 0.04).

CONCLUSION

The ultrasound-guided hydrodilatation of glenohumeral joint combined with acupotomy may benefit FS patients.

Ultrasound-Guided Treatments for the Painful Shoulder

Shoulder pain is an extremely common condition. The painful shoulder may be the result of a wide spectrum of underlying pathological conditions, including calcific tendinopathy of the rotator cuff, subacromial-subdeltoid bursitis, acromioclavicular or glenohumeral arthritis, tenosynovitis of the long biceps tendon, rotator cuff lesions, and many other less common conditions. Ultrasound imaging is an effective tool for the diagnosis and also for the image guidance of treatment of the majority of these conditions. Several ultrasound-guided procedures are effective for pain relief, such as percutaneous irrigation, intra-bursal or intra-articular drugs injection, fluid aspiration, neural block. This review article aims to summarize and discuss the most common treatment possibilities with ultrasound guidance for the painful shoulder.

In shoulder adhesive capsulitis, ultrasound-guided anterior hydrodilatation in rotator interval is more effective than posterior approach: a randomized controlled study

Abstract

Shoulder adhesive capsulitis, also called frozen shoulder, is a musculoskeletal disorder associated with pain and functional disability. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of shoulder ultrasound-guided hydrodilatation with corticosteroid, via rotator interval (RI) anteriorly, versus posterior approach, in adhesive capsulitis patients. All patients received exercise program following injection.

Patients and methods

A prospective randomized controlled study among 60 consecutive adhesive capsulitis patients was randomized into two equal groups. Group I received ultrasound-guided hydrodilatation with corticosteroid, saline, and local anesthetic via posterior intra-articular approach; group II received the same ultrasound-guided hydrodilatation via anterior rotator interval approach. Both groups received guided stretching exercises for 3 months after injection. Baseline and 3 months evaluation of pain by visual analogue scale (VAS), shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI), and range of motion (ROM) had been recorded for all patients.

Results

Both groups showed significant improvement 3 months after hydrodilatation regarding VAS pain, external rotation, and SPADI. Only in group II (RI anterior approach) improvement was observed regarding flexion and abduction. There was no improvement regarding extension or internal rotation in either group. When comparing the improvement in both groups after hydrodilatation, group II (anterior approach) showed a statistically significant higher level of improvement regarding VAS pain (p = 0.003), SPADI, flexion, abduction, and external rotation, compared to group I (p < 0.001). Extension, internal rotation, and adduction were not different.

Conclusions

Ultrasound-guided anterior rotator interval hydrodilatation for adhesive capsulitis, followed by guided exercise, is clinically and functionally more effective than the conventional posterior approach.

The effectiveness of hydrodistension and physiotherapy following previously failed conservative management of frozen shoulder in a UK primary care centre

BACKGROUND

There is a lack of evidence on the clinical effectiveness of hydrodistension for frozen shoulder following failed conservative management.

METHODS

A total of 90 patients opted for hydrodistension following failed initial treatment which included physiotherapy and at least one corticosteroid injection. Shoulder pain and function were assessed at baseline, and 6, 12 and 24 weeks using the Shoulder Pain Disability Index (SPADI), The Upper Extremity Functional Index (UEFI) and a visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain. Active ranges of motion were assessed at baseline, post-24 hr and discharge.

RESULTS

We observed clinically important improvements in pain (VAS -5.5; 90% confidence interval [CI] -6.0 to -5.0; SPADI pain, -20; 90% CI-23 to -17) and function (UEFI 23; 90% CI 19 to 26; SPADI disability, -32; 90% CI -36 to -28) at 6 weeks. These improvements remained clearly substantial at 24 weeks. Active range of motion improved substantially post-24 hr (flexion 20, 90% CI 18 to 23; lateral rotation 14, 90% CI 12 to 16; abduction 22, 90% CI 19 to 25) and at discharge (flexion 37, 90% CI 33 to 41; lateral rotation 24, 90% CI 21 to 27; abduction 44, 90% CI 38 to 50).

DISCUSSION

This single-arm observational study suggests that hydrodistension is an effective treatment of frozen shoulder within a UK primary care setting when standard treatment has failed.

[Conservative treatment of frozen shoulder]

Idiopathic shoulder stiffness (i.e. frozen shoulder, FS) is a common pathology of the glenohumeral joint characterized by a sudden onset of pain syndrome and progressive restriction of the range of motion. While the histological changes of FS are accompanied by synovial inflammation and increasing capsular fibrosis, the underlying cause of FS is still unknown. The treatment options for FS are multifarious and include medication, local steroid injection, physiotherapy, hydrodistension, manipulation under anesthesia, arthroscopic and open capsular release. As the disease is usually self-limiting and the symptoms resolve after 2-3 years, especially conservative treatment measures are often clinically applied; however, in this context there is still no scientifically based consensus on which treatment measures are most likely to contribute to symptom relief in which phase of the disease. For this reason, this article focuses on the description of the scientifically investigated conservative treatment methods in FS and their temporal classification into the classical three-phase course of the disease.