Study Comparing Combined Suprascapular Nerve Block and Intra-Articular Corticosteroid Injection Versus Corticosteroid Injection Alone for Treating Frozen Shoulder

What this Trial Is About

Frozen Shoulder is a common condition causing severe shoulder pain and loss of motion, which can last for months or even years, significantly affecting daily activities and quality of life. This research compares the effectiveness of two treatments a combination of an ultrasound-guided suprascapular nerve block SSNB and an intra-articular corticosteroid injection IACI versus an IACI combined with a sham SSNB. The study also seeks to identify physical exam tests linked to MRI findings and to determine which patients benefit most from these treatments. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either an active SSNB plus IACI or a short-acting SSNB plus IACI, with both groups receiving standard rehabilitation and physiotherapy. The active SSNB involves injections of methylprednisolone acetate and ropivacaine, while the sham SSNB uses linisol and the same IACI dose. Patient education, home exercises, and pain monitoring with a numeric scale will guide rehabilitation throughout the study. Participants will undergo assessments measuring shoulder pain, disability, range of motion, quality of life, and work ability over 12 months. Key tools include the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index SPADI, Numeric Pain Rating Scale, and Constant-Murley score. Researchers will monitor adverse effects and use predictive analyses to understand treatment benefits. The study will follow participants from baseline through 12 months post-intervention to track changes and safety.

Frozen Shoulder Treatment With Intra-Articular Corticosteroid Injection and Suprascapular Nerve Block