Analysis of Characteristics and Effect of Treatment for Shoulder Pain Patient Classified by Sonographic Findings

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to observe the general characteristic of patients with shoulder pain, interrelation between the ultrasonographic findings, physical examination and radiological findings, and the effect of treatment of shoulder pain classified by ultrasonographic findings. METHOD: We examined 334 patients (165 male and 169 female) with shoulder pain who had been consulted to us. We examined degenerative changes such as subacromial spur, greater tuberosity sclerosis using radiological method. We classified patients into three categories -capsular, noncapsular and mixed - in accordance to physical examination and ultrasonographic findings. In order to estimate the effect of treatment, VAS change one week after injection, treatment duration, and frequency of injection were checked. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 54.4 (range 22~77) years. The average VAS change, duration of treatment, and frequency of injection were 4.68+/-2.93, 6.14 +/- 4.83 weeks, 3.59 +/- 2.70 times. There was meaningful correlation between diagnosis done with physical examination and ultrasonography in cases showing capsular and noncapsular patterns. Although there was meaningful difference of treatment effect classified by ultrasonographic findings, no meaningful difference in treatment effect was ween in patients classified by physical examination. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonography is an useful tool supporting diagnosis based on physical examination. The ultrasonography of shoulder could predict progress and prognosis of patients with shoulder pain.