Modern methods for the treatment of shoulder joint pain
Aim: to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of the hyaluronic acid (HA) with scapulohumeral periarthritis. Patients and Methods: the study involved 42 patients (mean age 55.8±3.03 years) with scapulohumeral periarthritis, who were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 received HA once a week around periarticular tissue of the shoulder joint. Course duration - 3 injections. Group 2 included patients (n=23) who were treated with glucocorticosteroids (GCS) once for the entire treatment course. The drug was re-administered only if there was no clinical effect. Before and after the therapy, the severity of pain in active and passive movements was assessed using a 100-mm long visual-analog scale, as well as Health Assessment Questionnaire disability index in diseases of the shoulder girdle and Oxford Shoulder Score. Results: during therapy, there was a significantly more pronounced reduction in the shoulder joint pain, as well as a decrease in disability index due to shoulder joint disorder in group 1 versus group 2. In group 1, the rehabilitation potential exceeded that of group 2, in 18 (95%) patients of group 1 there was a positive response to the therapy, and only group 1 had pain in the shoulder joint, while in the same period of follow-up in group 2, 8 (35%) patients did not reach the values of group 1. No systemic adverse events or changes in the hemogram were registered in patients from both groups. Conclusion: the use of HA enhances the rehabilitation potential in patients with scapulohumeral periarthritis. HA is well tolerated with proper injection and administration techniques and had a favorable safety profile.