Short-term efficacy of joint and soft tissue injections for musculoskeletal pain: An interventional cohort study

Abstract

SummaryObjectives: Musculoskeletal injections (MIs) are frequently used in conservative treatment-resistant cases. Joint or soft tissue (ST) corticosteroid (CS) or local anesthetic (LA) injections can be used to relieve musculoskeletal pain. Assessed in the present study was the short-term efficacy of MIs for pain relief, as was the relative efficacy of injections in various joint and ST sites. Methods: An interventional prospective cohort design was employed in the present study. Joint or ST injections for musculoskeletal pathologies were performed in patients over 18 years of age who were resistant to conservative treatment methods. Pain during rest and activity were evaluated using visual analog scale (VAS) by different clinicians prior to treatment and 3 weeks after. At the end of the study, efficacy at 7 injection sites (myofascial trigger points, shoulder, knee, lateral epicondyle, plantar fascia, lumbar, and coccyx regions) was analyzed. Results: Injections were administered to 225 of the 250 patients included. A total of 128 patients, of whom 94 were female, completed the study. Resting VAS values before and after treatment were 4.35±1.49 and 1.63±1.74, respectively. Activity VAS values before and after treatment were 8.41±1.33 and 4.04±2.37, respectively. Changes in resting and activity VAS values were significant (p<0.005). Significant reductions in pain were observed at all injection sites following treatment. Conclusion: Significant improvement in pain scores was observed 3 weeks after injections among all injection sites. LA or CS injections can be used safely and efficiently for pain relief over short time periods.Keywords: Injection; joint; soft tissue; pain; rehabilitation. ÖzetAmaç: Muskuloskeletal enjeksiyonlar konservatif tedaviye dirençli olgularda sıklıkla kullanılmaktadır. Eklem veya yumuşak doku (YD), kortikosteroid (KS) veya lokal anestezik (LA) enjeksiyonları kas-iskelet ağrısını gidermek için kullanılabilir. Bu çalış-mada, Mİ'ların farklı eklem ve YD bölgelerinde ağrı tedavisi üzerine kısa dönem etkinliği değerlendirildi. Gereç ve Yöntem: Bu çalışma, girişimsel prospektif kohort olarak tasarlandı. Konservatif tedavi yöntemlerine dirençli 18 yaş üzeri hastalara, kas iskelet patolojilerine göre eklem ve YD enjeksiyonları yapılmıştır. Hastaların, istirahat ve aktivite sırasındaki ağrıları başka bir doktor tarafından visual analog skalası (VAS) ile tedavi öncesi, tedavi sonrası 3. haftada değerlendirildi. Çalış-manın sonunda, yedi enjeksiyon bölgesine göre (miyofasyal tetik noktalar, omuz, diz, lateral epikondil, plantar fasya, lomber ve kuyruk sokumu) analiz yapıldı. Bulgular: Enjeksiyon çalışmaya dahil edilen 250 hastanın 225'ine uygulandı. 94'ü kadın, toplam 128 hasta çalışmayı tamamladı. Tedavi öncesi ve sonrası istirahat VAS değerleri sırasıyla 4.35±1,49 ve 1,74±1,63 idi. Tedavi öncesi ve sonrası aktivite VAS değerleri sırasıyla 8.41±1.33 ve 4.04±2,37 idi. İstirahat ve aktivite VAS değerlerinde değişiklikler anlamlıydı (p<0.05). Ayrıca ağrıdaki düzelme tedavi sonrası tüm enjeksiyon böl...

Comparison of the Efficiency of Ultrasound‐Guided Injections of the Rhomboid Major and Trapezius Muscles in Myofascial Pain Syndrome: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Double‐blind Study

“…On the other hand, in trigger point injections, side effect related to vasovagal symptoms, such as syncope and hypotension, may be seen, as well as complications due to the injection technique, such as pneumothorax, air embolism, intrathecal injections, spinal cord injury, peripheral nerve injuries, and muscle injuries . We think that complications due to injection techniques can be prevented by using US.…”

Platelet-rich plasma injection in a patient with adhesive capsulitis due to chronic kidney disease

“…Conservative treatments consist non-steroid antiinflamatory drugs, intraarticular injections and physical therapy. [2,3] Newer approches such as platelet-rich plasma injections (PRP) also can be applied but there is little evidence for the effectiveness of PRP in patients with adhesive capsulitis. PRP consists higher level of growth factors and thrombocytes that have regenerative potentials.…”