Rotator Interval and Intra-articular Corticosteroid Injection for Frozen Shoulder

Rotator Interval and Intra-articular Corticosteroid Injection for Adhesive Capsulitis (Frozen Shoulder): a Randomised, Double Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial

The purpose of this study is to compare ultrasound guided capsular corticosteroid injection into the rotator interval/anterior capsule and the GH joint with ultrasound guided corticosteroid injection into the GH joint only. Both methods will be compared with placebo injections.

Primary outcome measure: pain reduction at week 6 Secondary outcome measures: improvement of function (SPADI, Life quality, ROM).

0-hypothesis: no difference between the methods.

The investigators want to find out if the clinical effect of the combined capsular and intra-articular injections are better than placebo and better that intra-articular injections

3 groups, 50 patients in each, follow-up visits after 3, 6, 12 and 26 weeks.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Pain and stiffness in one shoulder 1 - 6 months
• Restriction of passive ROM; >= 30 degrees in two or more planes compared to other shoulder

Exclusion Criteria:

• Systemic inflammatory disease
• Corticosteroid treatment last 3 months
• Poorly controlled Diabetes mellitus
• Pregnancy
• Contraindications/allergy to corticosteroids and/or Lidocaine
• Severe infections
• Osteoarthritis of the shoulder
• Fractures of the shoulder
• Rotator cuff pathology causing pain or disability
• Fibromyalgia
• Not able to understand Norwegian