Treatment of Synovial Proliferative Subdeltoid Bursitis through Alcohol Installation: A case report

ABSTRACT

For patients with bursitis, the treatment modality of choice was conservative treatment, and those who did not experience symptom relief usually received surgery. However, we have been able to treat a patient with chronic proliferative subdeltoid bursitis through alcohol instillation. The patient complained of aggravating right shoulder area pain particularly on abduction or flexion of his arm. Ultrasonographic examination revealed that there was notable synovial thickening, fluid collection and proliferative pannus in the subdeltoid bursa. Steroid was injected for treatment but after 9 days, synovial proliferation and synovial fluid collection remained unchanged. After additional 7 days, 70% isopropyl alcohol 5 ml was injected into the subdeltoid bursa via ultrasonograph-guided injection, followed by normal saline 10 ml injection to dilute the previously injected alcohol in order to re-aspirate. On the following check-up 3 weeks after, decrease in synovial proliferation along with normal ultrasonographic results other than slightly thickened bursa wall was noted.