Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of different site injection of compound betamethasone injection, ropivacaine and sodium hyaluronate for treatment of frozen shoulder at early stage. Methods A Total of 68 participants were included from May 2015 to May 2017 and randomly assigned to the glenohumeral joint and subacromial space group (IA+SA group, n=34) and glenohumeral joint group (IA group, n=34). In the IA+SA group, a solution of 1 mL corticosteroid, 6 mL ropivacaine, 2 mL sodium hyaluronate, and 8 mL normal saline were prepared and injected to glenohumeral joint, and a solution of 1 mL corticosteroid, 2 mL ropivacaine, 2 mL sodium hyaluronate, and 2 mL normal saline were injected to subacromial space. In the IA group, participants were given the same dose of drugs to the glenohumeral joint. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score and Constant-Murley score were used to assess pain and function of shoulder respectively. The change of VAS score and Constant-Murley score after treatment were used to evaluate pain relief and shoulder function improvement. Results Of the 68 participants, two in each group were lost to follow up and one in the IA+SA group dropped out. There was significant effect on pain relief and shoulder function improvement on all measurement in both groups (P<0.001) during the 12 weeks after treatment. In the IA group, group- by-time interaction were significant for pain relief at 6 and 12 weeks comparing with that at 3 weeks (P<0.001), while no significant difference at 6 weeks comparing with 12 weeks. In the IA+SA group, group-by-time interaction were significant for pain relief at all endpoints (3 weeksvs. 6 weeks: P<0.001; 3 weeksvs. 12 weeks: P<0.001; 3 weeksvs. 6 weeks: P=0.034). In both groups, there was significant effect on shoulder function improvement when compared at each endpoint within group (P<0.001). Between-group comparison revealed no significant effect on pain relief (P=0.386) or shoulder function improvement (P=0.685). There was also no significant effect on pain relief (3 weeks: P=0.898; 6 weeks: P=0.448; 12 weeks: P=0.216) and shoulder function improvement (3 weeks: P=0.120; 6 weeks: P=0.152; 12 weeks: P=0.868) at each same endpoint. Conclusions Different site injection can effectively release pain and improve shoulder function for the patients with frozen shoulder at early stage and be well tolerated. However, it is not found that two site injection is inferior to single site injection.
Objective To investigate the effectiveness of “hybrid” suture with en masse combined with double-layer repair under arthroscopy in repair of delaminated rotator cuff tear by comparison with en masse suture. MethodsFifty-six patients with delaminated rotator cuff tears met selection criteria between June 2020 and January 2022 were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups (n=28) using a random number method. The patients in trial group underwent arthroscopic “hybrid” suture with the combination en masse and double-layer suture. The patients in control group underwent en masse suture under arthroscopy. There was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05) in terms of gender, age, rotator cuff tear side, tear size, cause of injury, disease duration, and preoperative American Association of Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder scoring, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and shoulder range of motion (forward flexion and lateral external rotation). The operation time, the difference of ASES score, UCLA score, VAS score, and shoulder range of motion (forward flexion and lateral external rotation) between pre- and post-operation were recorded and compared between the two groups (P>0.05). The rotator cuff healing was examined by MRI and evaluated based on the classification criteria of rotator cuff healing proposed by Sugaya et al. Results Three cases (1 case in the trial group and 2 cases in the control group) were excluded from the study due to loss of follow-up. Twenty-seven cases in the trial group and 26 cases in the control group were included in the final study analysis. All operations of the two groups were completed successfully. There was no significant difference in the operation time between groups (P>0.05). The follow-up time was 10-12 months (mean, 10.9 months) in the trial group and 10-13 months (mean, 11.4 months) in the control group. All incisions healed by first intention. No surgery-related complications occurred. The UCLA score, ASES score, VAS score, and shoulder range of motion (forward flexion and lateral external rotation) of both groups at 9 months after operation were significantly superior to those before operation (P<0.05). The difference of UCLA score, ASES score, and VAS score between before and after operation in the trial group were significantly better than those in the control group (P<0.05). There was no significant differences between the two groups in the difference of shoulder range of motion (forward flexion and lateral lateral rotation) (P>0.05). At 9 months after operation, according to the classification criteria of rotator cuff healing proposed by Sugaya et al, MRI showed that the rotator cuff healing of the trial group was significantly better than that of the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Compared with en masse suture, arthroscopic “hybrid” suture for the repair of delaminated rotator cuff tear has advantages in relieving pain and improving shoulder joint function, and the rotator cuff healing is better.