A randomized controlled trial of ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency for patients with frozen shoulder

Abstract

Background: This study assessed the effectiveness and safety of ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency (UGPRF) for patients with frozen shoulder (FS).

Methods: This study was designed as a randomized, double-blind, sham control trial. A total of 136 patients with FS were recruited and then were equally randomly allocated into a treatment group (n = 68) and a sham group (n = 68). The patients in the treatment group received UGPRF, while the subjects in the sham group underwent sham UGPRF. Patients in both groups were treated for a total of 12 weeks. The primary outcome was the pain intensity, measured by the visual analog scale (VAS). The secondary outcomes consisted of shoulder disorder, measured by the score of shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI); quality of life, assessed by the Short Form-36 questionnaire (SF-36); and any adverse events (AEs) during the treatment period. All outcomes were measured at baseline, at the end of 6-week, and 12-week treatment.

Results: At the end of 6 weeks, and 12 weeks, UGPRF showed more promising outcome results in pain relief, as measured by VAS (P <.01), improvement of shoulder disorder, as assessed by SPADI score (pain, P <.01; disability, P <.01; total, P <.01), and enhancement of quality of life, as measured by the SF-36 scale (PCS, P <.01; MCS, P <.01), compared with sham UGPRF in this study.

Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that UGPRF may benefit for patients with FS after 12 weeks treatment.

Figure 1

Flowchart of participant selection.