Intra-articular hyaluronic acid plus sorbitol injections for the management of severe glenohumeral osteoarthritis in a former female volleyball player

Abstract

The glenohumeral joint is the third most common joint to be affected by osteoarthritis (OA). Practising volleyball can lead to shoulder arthritis due to repetitive mechanical stress on the shoulder joint. The first step of management of primary glenohumeral OA usually is the non-operative treatment, with intra-articular injections representing one of the most utilized treatments. The aim of this study is to report the outcomes of a series of three injections of hyaluronic acid (HA) plus sorbitol in a patient with severe glenohumeral OA. An 81-year-old female former volleyball player presented to our Rehabilitation Unit with more than 15 years history of shoulder pain and functional limitation. Since she refused to undergo surgery, we proposed her intra-articular injections of HA plus sorbitol. Outcome evaluation was made up to 12 months from the last injection by means of the Constant-Murley score and the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire. Three injections of HA plus sorbitol for three weeks in a row in a patient with severe glenohumeral OA led to important improvements in pain reduction and better functionality at all follow-ups. Larger studies including more patients and with longer follow-ups are needed to confirm the consistency of these findings.