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Transcatheter arterial embolization shows promising results in adhesive capsulitis cases
AMSTERDAM — In a prospective study presented at the European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy Congress, here, patients with adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder and abnormal vessels at the rotator interval had reduced night pain after treatment with transcatheter arterial embolization.
Yuji Okuno, MD, PhD, who conducted the study and presented the results, hypothesized that as the presence of increased neovessels and their accompanying nerves are one theory as to why pain is present with adhesive capsulitis, transcatheter arterial embolization may reduce their quantity and provide patients with pain relief.
“The take home is abnormal nerves and vessels are in the patient’s rotator interval and transcatheter arterial embolization could be performed safely and cheaply, and bring pain relief,” Okuno said.
He showed before and after angiograms from 10 patients he treated with the technique, all of whom underwent ultrasound Doppler imaging prior to treatment to confirm the presence of the abnormal structures in the rotator interval.
“Two months after embolization patients have a less abnormal signal,” Okuno said.
Not only did the night time [Visual Analog Scale] VAS pain scores in the patients decrease post-treatment, but the overall VAS scores decreased, as well, he said, noting that the patients studied also reduced their use of medication and other treatments for pain after transcatheter arterial embolization. – by Susan M. Rapp
Reference:
Okuno Y. Paper #FP14-2187. Presented at: European Society of Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy Congress; May 14-17, 2014; Amsterdam.
Disclosure: Okuno has no relevant financial disclosures.