Value of visualizing ultrasound in treatment and evaluation of frozen shoulder

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the value of ultrasound in the treatment and evaluation of frozen shoulder. Methods Seventy frozen shoulders of 70 patients (case group) and 58 normal shoulders of 29 healthy volunteers (control group) were included in the study. The interior capsule thickness was compared between the two groups. Sixty-eight shoulders of the case group underwent ultrasound-guided glenohumeral joint injection combined with hydraulic dilatation. Interior capsule thickness, Visual Analogy Scale (VAS) score, and Constant-Murley score were assessed before each treatment and 2 weeks after the second treatment. Results The interior capsule was significantly thicker in the case group than in the control group [(3.88±1.34) mm vs (1.68±0.59) mm, t=12.339, P 0.05). After the second treatment, the interior capsule thickness was significantly decreased compared with pre-treatment values and the values after the first treatment (t=2.606 and 2.148, respectively, P 0.05). Conclusion Ultrasound is a useful tool of diagnosis and evaluation of frozen shoulder. It is safe, simple, and effective to use ultrasound-guided genohumeral joint injection combined with hydraulic dilatation for the treatment of frozen shoulder. Key words: Ultrasound; Visualization technology; Frozen shoulder; Adhesive capsulitis