Comparison of Ultrasound-Guided Subacromial vs. Systemic Steroid Injections for Frozen Shoulder: a Multicenter Pilot Study

Exclusion Criteria

• •1. Secondary frozen shoulder caused by thyroid disease, cardiovascular disease, cancer, stroke, radiotherapy, neurosurgery, or breast surgery (excluding diabetes); secondary frozen shoulder caused by major shoulder trauma requiring medical care (e.g., fractures, dislocations, rotator cuff tears).
• •2. Full-thickness rotator cuff tear in the affected shoulder confirmed by MRI (excluding rotator cuff tendinopathy and partial-thickness rotator cuff tear in patients with frozen shoulder without a history of major shoulder trauma).
• •3. Patients unable to undergo MRI due to financial reasons, claustrophobia, pacemaker, or other metallic implants in the body.
• •4. Local infection in the affected shoulder or other contraindications to shoulder injections.
• •5. Patients with contraindications to steroid therapy (e.g., poorly controlled blood sugar in diabetes).
• •6. Patients with frozen shoulder who have already undergone shoulder injections, manipulation under anesthesia, arthroscopic capsular release, or open surgery for capsular release.
• •7. Received any form of steroid treatment within the past 3 months.
• •8. History of glucocorticoid use for more than 3 months.
• •9. Bilateral frozen shoulder or a history of frozen shoulder in the contralateral shoulder.
• •10. Pregnant or breastfeeding women.
• •11. Patients lacking the cognitive ability to comply with the study protocol.
• •12. Patients not residing in the area where the study is being conducted.
• •13. Patients with compensation claims or legal disputes related to workplace injury or car accidents.