title: The Comparison of Effects of Suprascapular Nerve Block, Intra-articular Steroid Injection, and a Combination Therapy on Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain: Pilot Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the relative effectiveness of three injections methods suprascapular nerve block (SSNB) alone, intra-articular steroid injection (IAI) alone, or both-on relief of hemiplegic shoulder pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 30 patients with hemiplegic shoulder pain after stroke. SSNB was performed in 10 patients, IAI in 10 patients, and a combination of two injections in 10 patients. All were ultrasonography guided. Each patient's maximum passive range of motion (ROM) in the shoulder was measured, and the pain intensity level was assessed with a visual analogue scale (VAS). Repeated measures were performed on pre-injection, and after injection at 1 hour, 1 week, and 1 month. Data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis and Friedman tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All variables that were repeatedly measured showed significant differences in shoulder ROM with time (p<0.05), but there was no difference according injection method. In addition, VAS was statistically significantly different with time, but there was no difference by injection method. Pain significantly decreased until a week after injection, but pain after a month was relatively increased. However, pain was decreased compared to pre-injection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The three injection methods significantly improved shoulder ROM and pain with time, but no statistically significant difference was found between them.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Dong-Eui Medical Center, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Woo Hyun
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Dong-Eui Medical Center, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Gun Woong
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Ho Joong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Joo
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Sim
keywords: Intra-articular injections; Nerve block; Shoulder pain; Stroke