December 26, 2018
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Midlateral route for subacromial injection may yield better accuracy than posterior route

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Phob Ganokroj headhot
Phob Ganokroj

Recently published results showed better accuracy when the midlateral route was used for subacromial injection compared with the posterior route.

Phob Ganokroj, MD, and colleagues randomly assigned 50 shoulders schedule to receive subacromial injection through either the midlateral or posterior route. Radiographs were interpreted after injection by a musculoskeletal radiologist who was blinded to group allocation, and researchers assessed age, sex, BMI, side of shoulder involved, circumference of the proximal humerus and acromial type. Researchers compared the accuracy rate of the injections, modified University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder scores and VAS pain score between the two groups.

Results showed an accuracy rate of 92% among patients in the midlateral route group vs. 68% among patients in the posterior route group. Despite significant improvements in modified UCLA shoulder and VAS pain scores in both groups after injection, researchers noted no statistically significant differences in functional outcomes. Accuracy had no correlation with age, sex, BMI or circumference of the proximal humerus, according to results from the univariate analysis. However, researchers found some influence on accuracy with injection route.

“This study found that the midlateral route for subacromial injection was more accurate than the posterior route,” Ganokroj told Healio.com/Orthopedics. “Although the accuracy of the injections was not related to factors such as age, sex, body mass index or circumference of the proximal humerus, injection route had an influence.” – by Casey Tingle

 

Disclosures: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.