The use of corticosteroid injection in the treatment of chronic shoulder pain.

Objective: To determine the short term outcome of intra-articular corticosteroid injection the treatment of chronic shoulder pain. Study Design: Descriptive Study. Setting: Mardan Medical Complex, MTI. Period: 12th August 2023 to 15th December 2023. Methods: All patients of chronic shoulder pain fulfilling inclusion criteria were administered intra-articular corticosteroid injection. Pre intervention demographic and visual analogue scale (VAS) score and DASH (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand) scores were noted. All patients underwent through intraarticular corticosteroid injection procedure. VAS score and DASH score was calculated again on four week follow up visit. Both scores were compared by paired t test using SPSS version 23. The pre and post injection VAS and DASH scores were compared and p value calculated using paired t test. P value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: Total of 50 patients were included in the study. The mean age of patients was 50.08+6.43yrs and mean duration of symptoms was 5.7+1.6 months. 64% (n=32) of the patients were male, while 36% (n=18) were female about a total of 64% (n=32) of the patients were diabetic. Majority (56%, n=28) of patients exhibited left-side involvement, while 44% (22) presented with right-side involvement. The mean pre intervention VAS score was 79.86 + 6.32 and DASH score was 59.98+8.44. The mean post intervention VAS score was 15.7+4.1and DASH score was 49.78+6.33. After applying paired t-test on pre and post intervention scores, both VAS and DASH score was statistically significant with p value of <0.001. Conclusion: Intra-articular corticosteroid injection significantly relieved shoulder pain and improved functional outcome in short term follow up in patients with chronic shoulder pain.