A prospective, randomized, blinded study on the efficacy of using corticosteroids in hydrodilatation as a treatment for adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder

Abstract

Background This study aimed to compare hydrodilatation with or without corticosteroid administration on the outcomes of patients with shoulder adhesive capsulitis. Methods This was a prospective, randomized, blinded study of 82 patients with adhesive capsulitis treated with hydrodilatation with corticosteroids (HDC) or without corticosteroids (HDA). Assessments were performed at 48 h and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. Results Pain in HDC patients was significantly lower after 48 h of treatment than that of HDA, and the functional scales were better after the first month. These differences were maintained after 1 year. (visual analog scale: 0.8 vs. 1.6, p = 0.018; shoulder pain and disability index: 4.8 vs. 9.8, p = 0.003; simple shoulder test: 11.4 vs. 8.7, p = 0.008; subjective shoulder value: 96.6 vs. 90.1, p = 0.024). Conclusion We found that hydrodilatation with corticosteroids improved pain levels, shoulder function, and subjective perception of shoulder status compared to hydrodilatation without corticosteroids.