A Novel Approach to New-Onset Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain With Decreased Range of Motion Using Targeted Diagnostic Nerve Blocks: The ViVe Algorithm

Introduction: Hemiplegic shoulder pain (HSP) is the most common pain disorder after stroke with incidence estimates of 30–70% and associated with reductions in function, interference with rehabilitation, and a reduced quality of life. Onset may occur as soon as a week after stroke in 17% of patients. Management of HSP represents a complex treatment pathway with a lack of evidence to support one treatment. The pain has heterogeneous causes. In the acute setting, decreased range of motion in the shoulder can be due to early-onset spasticity, capsular pattern stiffness, glenohumeral pathology, or complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). As contracture can form in up to 50% of patients after stroke, effective management of the painful shoulder and upper limb with decreased range of motion requires assessment of each possible contributor for effective treatment. The anesthetic diagnostic nerve block (DNB) is known to differentiate spasticity from contracture and other disorders of immobility and can be useful in determining an appropriate treatment pathway.Objective: To create a diagnostic algorithm to differentiate between the causes of HSP in the stiff, painful shoulder in the subacute setting using diagnostic techniques including the Budapest Criteria for CRPS and DNB for spasticity and pain generators.Results: Examination of each joint in the upper extremity with HSP may differentiate each diagnosis with the use of an algorithm. Pain and stiffness isolated to the shoulder may be differentiated as primary shoulder pathology; sensory suprascapular DNB or intra-articular/subacromial injection can assist in differentiating adhesive capsulitis, arthritis, or rotator cuff injury. CRPS may affect the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand and can be evaluated with the Budapest Criteria. Spasticity can be differentiated with the use of motor DNB. A combination of these disorders may cause HSP, and the proposed treatment algorithm may offer assistance in selecting a systematic treatment pathway.

866 A Lateral Approach Is More Likely to Be Successful Than A Posterior Approach for An Injection to Reach the Subacromial Space

Background Subacromial injections are common for diagnosis and therapy of shoulder impingement secondary to subacromial bursitis. We evaluated the likelihood of a successful subacromial injection from both the posterior and lateral injection sites. Method We reviewed 100 MRI scans of the shoulder and recorded measurements in both the sagittal (representative of posterior injection) and coronal (representative of lateral injection) orientations. We compared these to the lengths of standard needles. Multiple measurements were taken: Results Measuring along the angle of the acromion demonstrated shorter mean distances from the lateral injection site. The distance from skin to mid-point of the acromion) provided mean values of 51.4mm for posterior and 40.1mm for lateral. A standard 40mm (green) needle would reach the midpoint of the acromion in 58% of lateral measurements and 23% from posterior. Conclusions Injections are more likely to enter the subacromial space from a lateral rather than a posterior entry point.

The effects of a single-dose subacromial injection of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug in geriatric patients with subacromial impingement syndrome: a randomized double-blind study

Background: As nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and steroids have similar effects, steroids can be avoided to reduce adverse effects. This study aimed to compare the differences in symptom improvement after subacromial injection of steroids or NSAIDs.Methods: Sixty patients with rotator cuff syndrome for at least 3 months were enrolled and divided into steroid and NSAID groups. The steroid group received a mixture of 1 mL of triamcinolone acetonide (40 mg/mL) and 1 mL of lidocaine hydrochloride 2%, while the NSAID group received a mixture of 1 mL of Ketorolac Tromethamine (30 mg/mL) and 1 mL of lidocaine hydrochloride 2%. The patients were assessed before and at 3, 6, and 12 weeks after the procedure. Shoulder scores from visual analog scale (VAS), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), and University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) were used for evaluation.Results: Both groups showed improvements in the clinical outcomes. Overall VAS, ASES, and UCLA scores improved from 6.9, 32.7, and 16.0 before the procedure to 2.0, 1.2, and 1.1; 81.5, 87.6, and 88.5; and 29.7, 31.8, and 32.0 at weeks 3, 6, and 12 weeks after the procedure, respectively. Twenty-six patients (86.7%) in the steroid group and 28 (93.3%) in the NSAID group reported satisfactory treatment outcomes. There were no significant differences in the outcomes between the two groups (p=0.671).Conclusions: Subacromial injection of NSAIDs for rotator cuff tendinitis with shoulder pain had equivalent outcomes with those of steroid injection at the 12-week follow-up.

Platelet-Rich Plasma versus Corticosteroid Injections in Rotator Cuff Related Shoulder Pain: A Comparative Study with Up to 18 Months of Follow-Up

Purpose: Given the complications involved in corticosteroid (CS) injections, subacromial platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections may provide a valid alternative to CS in the treatment of rotator cuff related shoulder pain (RCRSP).Methods: We retrospectively reviewed a total of 98 patients affected by RCRSP who were treated with either subacromial injection of PRP or CS. The PRP group received three injections of autologous PRP at two weeks interval, and the CS group received one injection of CS. Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC) was the primary outcome measure, while secondary outcome measures were the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Range of Motion (ROM) and need for cuff repair surgery, which were analyzed at interval of 6, 12, and 18 months.Results: A total of 75 patients were included in the analysis (PRP n = 35, CS n = 40). Mean follow-up was (PRP 21.1 ± 8.7 months vs CS 33.6 ± 16.3 months, p <0.001). Both groups showed improvement in WORC, VAS and ROM. No significant differences were detected between the two groups in any of the primary (WORC) or secondary outcomes during 6, 12 and 18 months (all p > 0.05). No adverse events were detected.Conclusion: Both treatments improve RCRSP patient’s symptoms, but none of them seems to result in a significant better outcome in this series of patients. PRP can be a safe and feasible alternative to CS in treatment of RCRSP even at long follow-up, to reduce local and systemic effects involved with CS injections.

Muscle Activity Before and After Subacromial Injection

Context: Shoulder muscle activation in patients with subacromial impingement is highly cited and variable in the literature. Differences between studies could be due to artifacts introduced by normalization practices in the presence of pain. Ultimately, this lack of knowledge pertaining to pathogenesis limits the clinical treatment and restoration of muscular function. Design: A total of 21 patients with stage 2 subacromial impingement and 21 matched controls were recruited for EMG testing of their affected shoulder during an arm elevation task. The patients were tested before and after receiving an injection to their subacromial bursa. Methods: The EMG from 7 shoulder muscles were measured before and after treatment during humeral motion in the scapular plane. Results: Our findings indicate an increase in anterior deltoid, middle deltoid, and upper trapezius activity following the injection; further, this trend extended to the controls. The control subjects had a greater activation of the latissimus dorsi at peak arm elevation when compared with the patient group postinjection. Conclusions: Our results indicate that a reduction in subacromial pain is associated with changes in shoulder muscle recruitment, primarily of the deltoid. This change in deltoid activity may lend evidence to rotator cuff function in patients without rotator cuff tears.

Ultrasound guided injection of platelet enriched plasma versus corticosteroids in patients suffering rotator cuff tendinopathy

Background Shoulder pain is the third most common musculoskeletal complaint. Rotator cuff tendinopathy is an overuse condition that manifests itself as pain in and around tendon and happens when the body fails to regenerate properly. This painful condition is associated with tendon disorganization and thickening that reduces its physical properties, which causes the tendon to fatigue, further exacerbating the painful condition with ultimate failure. A lot of trials and modalities of treatment are studied to avoid the surgical choice such as physiotherapy, NSAIDs and/or ESWT. Local injection of shoulder joint is widely used and studied but the diversity of results lead us to establish further studies. Objective The purpose of my study is to compare between two important modalities in non-surgical treatment of supraspinatus tendinopathy. Methods This study was conducted on 40 patients divided into two groups: group 1 received 3 subacromial injections of platelet rich plasma 10 days interval and group 2 received single subacromial injection of corticosteroid, both are ultrasound guided. Clinical examination using Constant Score is used to evaluate the patients before receiving treatment (0), one month (1) and six months (6) after receiving the treatment. Results We can conclude the results of the 2 groups as there is high significant improvement of the 2 groups comparing base line start. However Corticosteroids shows earlier improvement than PRP after 1 month follow up, but at the end of follow up (6 ms) PRP shows significant improvements according to Constant-Murley Score. According to group 1 there was no complications reported except a discomfort in shoulder region 24 hrs post injection up to 3 days maximum. While in group 2 there was no complications reported all through the 6 months follow up. Conclusion Ultrasound subacromial injection of corticosteroid and PRP achieved significant improvement in pain and function of shoulder joint in RCTs. Corticosteroid achieved better improvements according to Constant-Murley Score in short term follow up (4 weeks) than PRP group, while PRP achieved higher significant improvements than corticosteroid in pain and function of the joint after 6 months follow up as corticosteroid group showed decline in the pain and function results after 6 months follow up.