RCT of Corticosteroid Injection, Physiotherapy and Combo Treatment In Chronic Subacromial Bursitis .
Comparison of corticosteroid injection, physiotherapy and combined treatment for patients with chronic subacromial bursitis - A randomised controlled trial.
Clin Rehabil . 2023 Sep;37(9):1189-1200.One hundred and eleven patients with chronic subacromial bursitis were randomized to receive corticosteroid injections (n=36), physiotherapy (n=40), or a combination of both treatments (n=35). The primary outcomes were pain (VAS) and the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) at 8 weeks post-treatment. Secondary outcomes included active range of motion, Shoulder Disability Questionnaire (SDQ), Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC), patient evaluation of treatment effect, and symptom recurrence assessed at 24 weeks. Overall, the results revealed that both the corticosteroid and combined groups showed significantly greater improvements in shoulder flexion, external rotation, and patient-rated treatment effect compared to physiotherapy alone. However, the physiotherapy group experienced the lowest recurrence rate. These findings suggest that combining corticosteroid injection with physiotherapy provides the most robust short-term functional improvement, while physiotherapy alone may offer better long-term symptom stability.
Unlock the Full ACE Report
You have access to 4 more FREE articles this month.
Click below to unlock and view this ACE Reports
Unlock Now
Critical appraisals of the latest, high-impact randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews in orthopaedics
Access to OrthoEvidence podcast content, including collaborations with the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, interviews with internationally recognized surgeons, and roundtable discussions on orthopaedic news and topics
Subscription to The Pulse, a twice-weekly evidence-based newsletter designed to help you make better clinical decisions
Exclusive access to original content articles, including in-house systematic reviews, and articles on health research methods and hot orthopaedic topics