Comparison of the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided subacromial steroid injections and blind subacromial steroid injections

The most common cause of shoulder pain is subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS). Although many studies have demonstrated the benefit of steroid injection in SIS, there are differences between studies in terms of injection site and method of administration of the injection. The aim of our study is to compare ultrasound-guided subacromial steroid injections and blind subacromial steroid injections in terms of clinical improvement, pain, and functional status and to decide which application is more effective and safe. A total of 29 patients with SIS were randomized into 2 groups: 14 patients received a subacromial steroid injection with ultrasound guidance (US-guided group - UGG), and 15 patients received a subacromial steroid injection without ultrasound guidance (blind group - BG). One patient lost to follow up in BG. The visual analog scale (VAS), active flexion range of motion (ROM), active abduction ROM, Constant-Murley score and Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, Hand (DASH) score were obtained before the injection and at 4 weeks after the injection. The VAS score decreased from 8,5 (4-10) before the injection to 2 (1-7) at 4 weeks after the injection in the BG (p=0,001) and from 9 (4-10) to 1 (1-7) in the UGG (p=0,001). The decrease in the VAS score was not significantly different between the groups. Active flexion ROM increased from 140 (70-165) before the injection to 170 (140-180) at 4 weeks after the injection in the BG (p=0,001), and from 150 (80-170) to 180 (130-180) in the UGG (p=0,001). The increase in the active flexion ROM was not significantly different between the groups. Active abduction ROM increased from 130 (70-160) before the injection to 170 (140-180) at 4 weeks after the injection in the BG (p=0,001), and from 150 (80-170) to 180 (135-180) in the UGG (p=0,001). The increase in the active abduction ROM was not significantly different between the groups. The Constant-Murley score increased from 37 (13-80) before the injection to 85 (53-97) at 4 weeks after the injection in the BG (p=0,001), and from 39 (19-73) to 95 (49-100) in the UGG (p=0,001). The increase in the ConstantMurley score was not significantly different between the groups. The DASH score decreased from 117 (62-141) before the injection to 51 (31-83) at 4 weeks after the injection in the BG (p=0,001) and from 110 (45-145) to 35 (30-86) in the UGG (p=0,001). The decrease in the DASH score was not significantly different between the groups. In both groups, significant improvement was observed in all clinical evaluation parameters performed 4 weeks after injection. No side effects were observed in both groups after injections. In conclusion, there were no significant differences in clinical evaluation parameters between blind subacromial steroid injections and ultrasound-guided injections in SIS patients. For this reason, we think that ultrasound use is unnecessary when subacromial steroid injection is performed.