Ultrasound-guided shoulder injections in the treatment of subacromial bursitis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the treatment effectiveness between ultrasound-guided and blind injection techniques in the treatment of subacromial bursitis.


METHODS
A total of 40 patients with sonographic confirmation of subacromial bursitis were recruited into this study. These patients were divided into blind and ultrasound-guided injection groups. The shoulder abduction range of motion was compared before injections and 1 wk after the completion of injections in both groups.


RESULTS
The shoulder abduction range of motion before injection in the blind injection group was 71.03 +/- 12.38 degrees and improved to 100 +/- 18.18 degrees 1 wk after the injection treatments. However, the improvement did not reveal significant statistical differences (P > 0.05). The shoulder abduction range of motion before injection in the ultrasound-guided injection group was 69.05 +/- 14.72 degrees and improved to 139.29 +/- 20.14 degrees 1 wk after the injection treatments (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Ultrasound may be used as an adjuvant tool in guiding the needle accurately into the inflamed subacromial bursa. The ultrasound-guided injection technique can result in significant improvement in shoulder abduction range of motion as compared with the blind injection technique in treating patients with subacromial bursitis.
Chen
Max J L
MJ
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan.
Lew
Henry L
HL
Hsu
Tsz-Ching
TC
Tsai
Wen-Chung
WC
Lin
Wei-Ching
WC
Tang
Simon F T
SF
Lee
Ya-Chen
YC
Hsu
Rex C H
RC
Chen
Carl P C
CP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002062:Bursitis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular / Q000379:methods; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000187:drug effects; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013256:Steroids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods
D004338:Drug Combinations; D013256:Steroids; D008012:Lidocaine