Yousefi N, Moradi K, Mansouri K, Sajadi S, Torabi M. Ultrasound-Guided botulinum toxin A vs. corticosteroid Injection in patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy. Tehran Univ Med J 2025; 82 (12) :910-918
URL:
http://tumj.tums.ac.ir/article-1-13449-en.html
1- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Neuromusculoskeletal Research Center, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract: (1071 Views)
Background: The most common cause of Shoulder pain is inflammation in the subacromial bursa. Intra-bursal corticosteroid injections are one of the most common methods in cases of bursitis. Recently, botulinum toxin A injection has also been used as a safe treatment in these patients. This injection does not have many of corticosteroid disadvantages. The most important disadvantages of this method are its cost. This study was performed to compare corticosteroids with botulinum toxin A in the treatment of subacromial bursitis by single injection.
Methods: This study is a prospective randomized clinical trial performed on patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy who were referred to the physical medicine and rehabilitation clinic of Iran University of Medical Sciences from November 2020 to October 2021. 54 patients with signs and symptoms of rotator cuff tendinopathy, were randomly assigned to one of the two groups of botulinum toxin A or corticosteroid injection. Routine treatment included exercise training for all patients. Patient's symptoms were assessed using VAS, Constant Score and SPADI criteria before treatment, two weeks and two months after injection.
Results: In the VAS study, both groups showed an improvement over baseline (P=0.000), which was significantly greater in the corticosteroid group. VAS between the first and second follow-up showed a decrease in the botulinum toxin A group and an increase in the corticosteroid group. In the Constant Score and SPADI study, both groups showed an improvement over baseline.
Conclusion: This study showed that a single-session injection of botulinum toxin A is less effective than corticosteroid in controlling symptoms of these patients. However, the therapeutic effect of botulinum toxin A, remains 2 months and unlike corticosteroid, has more reliability and durability.
Type of Study:
Original Article |