Functional outcome of fluoroscopy-guided hydrodilatation in adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder

Background: Adhesive capsulitis is characterized by shoulder pain and globally restricted movement. While conservative treatments are standard, fluoroscopy-guided hydrodilatation aims to directly enlarge the contracted joint capsule. This study was performed to evaluate the functional outcome, pain relief, and range of motion (ROM) following fluoroscopy-guided hydrodilatation in patients with adhesive capsulitis. Methods: This prospective interventional study included 52 patients (aged 18-60) with adhesive capsulitis presenting at a tertiary care hospital. Patients underwent fluoroscopy-guided hydrodilatation using a mixture of normal saline, local anesthetic, and steroid, followed by a structured physiotherapy regimen. Outcomes were assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, the Oxford shoulder score (OSS), the shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI), and ROM measurements at baseline, 1, 3, and 6 months post-intervention. Results: The mean patient age was 47.6 years, with a female predominance (65.4%). Post-intervention, significant progressive improvements were observed across all parameters (p<0.001). The mean VAS score decreased from 7.5 pre-intervention to 1.9 at 6 months. Shoulder ROM improved substantially, with abduction increasing from 94.1 to 143.3, and flexion from 97.0 to 147.6. Mean OSS increased from 22.5 to 42.5, indicating restored function. The total SPADI score significantly decreased from 64.98 to 31.00 at the 6-month follow-up. Conclusions: Fluoroscopy-guided hydrodilatation, followed by structured physiotherapy, is a highly effective intervention for adhesive capsulitis, yielding significant mid-term pain relief, restoration of shoulder mobility, and enhanced functional outcomes.