Adhesive capsulitis: one sonographic-guided injection of 20 mg triamcinolon into the rotator interval

The aim of this study was to establish a method for injecting corticosteroid into the rotator interval under sonographic guidance and to measure the effect on function, pain and range of motion after 4 and 12 weeks. This study involved a multicenter cohort trial and carried out at outpatient clinics of the physical medicine and rehabilitation departments in Oslo and Porsgrunn, Norway. 39 patients with adhesive capsulitis lasting between 3 and 12 months. Sonographic-guided corticosteroid and lidocaine injection into the rotator interval medial to the biceps tendon using 20 mg triamcinolon hexacetat and 3 ml 20 mg/ml xylocain. Change in the shoulder pain and disability index score (SPADI) after 12 weeks. The change in SPADI was 42 points (95 % confidence interval, 33-51). Changes in the secondary outcomes shoved highly statistically significant increase in active and passive range of motion. One ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injection into the rotator interval seems to give significant improvement in SPADI and active range of motion after 12 weeks. The protocol was evaluated by the research faculty at Oslo university hospital, dept of physical medicine. The study was regarded as regular clinical procedure as injections with triamcinolon already is standard treatment. No trial registration was obtained but the protocol presented the local ethics committee without comments.