Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 6, 2026
Knee Arthrocentesis in Adults
Published on: February 25, 2022
Intra-articular versus periarticular acromioclavicular joint injection: a multicenter, prospective, randomized,
Manuel Sabeti-Aschraf1, Christoph Stotter, Christoph Thaler
1Department for Orthopaedics and Orthopaedic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, General Hospital of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Purpose:
The purpose of this randomized study was to compare the clinical efficacy of intra-articular versus periarticular acromioclavicular joint injections.
Methods:
In this multicenter, prospective, randomized, controlled trial, 101 patients (106 shoulders) with symptomatic acromioclavicular joints were treated with an injection and were randomly assigned to either the intra-articular group or the periarticular group. To ensure accurate needle placement either intra-articularly or in a periarticular manner, the needle was placed under ultrasound guidance. Baseline values including the Constant-Murley score, pain assessment with a visual analog scale for pain under local pressure and pain at night, and the crossover arm test were investigated in 7 different centers immediately before treatment. Follow-up examinations were scheduled after 1 hour, 1 week, and 3 weeks.
Results:
All patients completed the study. Overall, a highly significant clinical improvement in all tested variables and in both groups was observed over time (P < .0001) beginning with 1 hour after treatment and lasting for the entire follow-up period of 3 weeks. The difference between the 2 groups was not significant except regarding the crossover arm test (P < .016).
Conclusions:
With both injection techniques, a highly significant clinical advantage for the patient can be achieved. The difference between the 2 treatments was not significant except for more pain reduction according to the crossover arm test after intra-articular injection at 3 weeks' follow-up.
Level Of Evidence:
Level II, multicenter, randomized, prospective, controlled trial.
