Takeaway
- This study suggests that hydrodistension substantially reduces pain and disability associated with frozen shoulder. Conservative
Why this matters
- Hydrodistension is only one of the current treatment methods to treat the symptoms of frozen shoulder.
- Although steroid injections are widely accepted as a variable treatment option for frozen shoulder, it lacks high-quality evidence regarding clinical effectiveness.
Study design
- The study identified patients with frozen shoulder who opted for hydrodistension after a failed initial treatment including physiotherapy (n=90).
- Shoulder pain and function were assessed at baseline, 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.
- Funding: None disclosed.
Key results
- Clinically important improvements were noted after hydrodistension at 6 weeks:
- Pain (VAS, mean difference, −5.5; 90% CI, −6.0 to −5.0);
- SPADI pain (−20; 90% CI, −23 to −17);
- UEFI (23; 90% CI, 19-26) and
- SPADI disability, (−32; 90% CI −36 to −28).
- Substantial improvements in active range of motion were observed when the patients first visited the hospital post-injection, and these were maintained throughout.
- Active range of motion improved substantially post-24 hour:
- flexion (20°; 90% CI, 18°-23°);
- lateral rotation (14°, 90% CI, 12°-16°) and
- abduction (22°; 90% CI, 19°-25°).
- The differences at discharge were:
- flexion (37°; 90% CI, 33°-41°);
- lateral rotation (24°; 90% CI, 21°-27°) and
- abduction (44°; 90% CI, 38°-50°).
Limitations
- Single-arm, retrospective, observational study design.
References
References
