Effectiveness of subacromial steroid injection and hydrodilatation in the treatment of adhesive capsulitis: A comparative analysis.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of Subacromial Steroid Injection (SAI) and Hydrodilatation in treating adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder). Study Design: Observational study. Setting: Department of Orthopedic, Dr. Ziauddin Hospital, Located in North Nazimabad, Karachi, Pakistan. Period: March 2023 to September 2023. Methods: Included 138 participants with primary adhesive capsulitis. Participants were divided into two groups: one received hydrodilatation and the other received SAI. The Disability of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) Score and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were used for pre and post-treatment assessments at intervals of 2 weeks, 6 weeks, and 6 months. SPSS version 23 was used to analyze the data. Results: Both groups show significant reductions in pain scores and DASH scores over time (p-value<0.05 for changes within each group). There are significant differences in pain scores and DASH scores between the groups at 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 6 months (p-value<0.05), with the hydrodilatation group showing better outcomes. Moreover, the mean reduction in pain scores and DASH scores from pre-treatment to 6 months is significantly greater in the hydrodilatation group compared to the SAI group (p-value<0.05). Conclusion: While both Hydrodilatation and SAI are effective in reducing pain and improving functionality in patients with adhesive capsulitis, Hydrodilatation appears to be more effective in achieving these outcomes, particularly in terms of pain management and functional improvement.