Ultrasound-Guided Standard vs Dual-Target Subacromial Corticosteroid Injections for Shoulder Impingement Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To compare dual-target injection with standard ultrasound (US)-guided subacromial injection in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS) and possible disorders of the biceps long-head tendons.

Design: Double-blind, randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Rehabilitation outpatient clinic.

Participants: Patients with SIS (N=60).

Intervention: (1) US-guided standard subacromial bursa; (2) dual-target (subacromial bursa plus proximal biceps long-head tendon) injection, with 40-mg triamcinolone acetonide administered to patients in each group.

Main Outcome Measures: Clinical assessments were performed at baseline. The outcomes, including results from a self-administered questionnaire, the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), and a self-pain report, the visual analog scale (VAS) scores for pain at rest, at night, and during overhead activities, were evaluated at baseline and at the first and third months postintervention.

Results: No significant difference was observed in baseline evaluations between groups (n=30 in each treatment arm) prior to injections. Both groups exhibited significant SPADI and VAS-score improvements after the first month. The dual-target injection group had less rebounding pain at the 3-month follow-up. The standard injection group had more patients reporting worsening pain within 1 day postinjection.

Conclusion: US-guided dual-target corticosteroid injection showed similar short-term efficacy to standard subacromial injections, but with an extended duration of symptom relief. Therefore, dual-target corticosteroid injections may be useful for shoulder pain treatment in patients with SIS.