Chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) is a common disease in China, with a high incidence among the elderly, and has a significant impact on patients' quality of life. Shoulder osteoarthritis is a common type of CMP. Currently, both domestic and international studies have confirmed that glucocorticoid injection at myofascial trigger points(MTrPs) can alleviate patients' pain symptoms. MTrPs injection is safe and easy to operate, and can improve the clinical management efficiency of patients with shoulder osteoarthritis. Therefore, we designed a prospective, randomized controlled, blinded outcome, non-inferiority study to compare the long-term clinical efficacy of glucocorticoid injection at myofascial trigger points and complex intra-articular injection in treating shoulder osteoarthritis. Patients will be randomly divided into two groups and receive either glucocorticoid injection at MTrPs or joint cavities. After treatment, patients will be followed up for 2 years. Their NRS scores, WOMAC scores, Patient Global Impression of Change(PGIC) scale, and adverse reactions will be recorded at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks. If the results indicate that the clinical efficacy of myofascial trigger point injection for shoulder osteoarthritis is not inferior to that of injection at intra-articular injection, it will provide a safe and simple treatment option that is easy to promote for patients who do not respond to conservative treatment.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
1,036
Patients in the intra-articular injection group will receive an intra-articular shoulder injection via an anterolateral approach. The injection solution is prepared using 7 mL of 1% lidocaine and 1 mL of triamcinolone acetonide (40 mg/mL).
The volume of infiltration solution is determined by the number of trigger points, with each trigger point receiving 1 mL of injection volume. The injection solution is prepared by combining 1 mL of triamcinolone acetonide (40 mg/mL), lidocaine, and normal saline, resulting in a final lidocaine concentration of 1%. A 25-gauge needle is used to inject perpendicular to the skin surface at the selected tender points, with the solution administered as a single bolus into each tender point within 10 seconds.
Beijing Tiantan Hospital
Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China
RECRUITINGNRS pain scores
The pain intensity of the shoulder will be measured based on NRS, where 0 represents no pain and 10 represents worst pain imaginable.
Time frame: at the 4-weeks
NRS pain scores
The pain intensity of the shoudler will be measured based on NRS, where 0 represents no pain and 10 represents worst pain imaginable.
Time frame: at the 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 weeks
WOMAC scores
The WOMAC(Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index) is a standardized instrument specifically designed to assess symptoms and function in patients with shoulder osteoarthritis. It comprises three dimensions with a total of 24 items: pain (5 items), stiffness (2 items), and physical function in daily activities (17 items). It utilizes a Likert scale (0-4 points, 0 = no symptoms), with a total score range of 0-96 points (or standardized to 0-100 points). Higher scores indicate greater functional impairment.
Time frame: at the 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 weeks
The Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) scale
The Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) scale is a patient-rated instrument used to evaluate overall change in status following treatment. It employs a 7-point Likert scale (1 = "very much worse" to 7 = "very much improved"), focusing on the patient's subjective perception of symptoms, function, and quality of life. The evaluation criterion defines a score of 5 or higher as indicative of "improvement" (mild/moderate/marked), a score of 4 as "no change," and scores of 3 or below as "worsening."
Time frame: at the 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 weeks
Adverse Reactions
Any systemic adverse reactions related to corticosteroids such as hyperglycemic reactions, infection at the puncture site, and intra-articular infection.
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.