Original Article
Efficacy of corticosteroid injection for subacromial impingement syndrome
Abstract
Background: Subacromial corticosteroid injections are frequently used for short-term pain relief in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS). However, the efficacy of corticosteroid injections is contested. The purpose of this study is to assess patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) and evaluate the duration of pain relief following a single subacromial corticosteroid injection to treat SIS.
Methods: This prospective, single center cohort study enrolled 34 patients with a diagnosis of SIS. Participants received one subacromial corticosteroid injection in the affected shoulder and were evaluated at baseline, 2-week, 3- and 6-month post-injection.
Results: Participants had statistically significant improvements at 3- and 6-month post injection in Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain, Western Ontario Rotator Cuff index (WORC), Shoulder Pain Disability Index (SPADI), and the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) subsections of pain, physical functioning, physical functioning role limiting, emotional role limiting and energy.
Conclusions: Our study addresses some of the inconsistencies in the literature and supports the practice of administering subacromial corticosteroid injections for patients with SIS as patients demonstrated clinically significant improvements in VAS pain and other PROMs at both 3- and 6-month post-injection.
Methods: This prospective, single center cohort study enrolled 34 patients with a diagnosis of SIS. Participants received one subacromial corticosteroid injection in the affected shoulder and were evaluated at baseline, 2-week, 3- and 6-month post-injection.
Results: Participants had statistically significant improvements at 3- and 6-month post injection in Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain, Western Ontario Rotator Cuff index (WORC), Shoulder Pain Disability Index (SPADI), and the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) subsections of pain, physical functioning, physical functioning role limiting, emotional role limiting and energy.
Conclusions: Our study addresses some of the inconsistencies in the literature and supports the practice of administering subacromial corticosteroid injections for patients with SIS as patients demonstrated clinically significant improvements in VAS pain and other PROMs at both 3- and 6-month post-injection.
