Compound betamethasone in the treatment of pain after supraspinatus tendon repair

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect of compound betamethasone on pain points of the supraspinatus tendon by local blocking therapy after repair surgery.

Methods: This non-randomised controlled trial included patients who underwent arthroscopic repair of supraspinatus tendon tears and who had long-term pain. At 3 months following surgery, patients were assigned to an experimental group, whose pain points were treated with compound betamethasone, or a control group who did not receive compound betamethasone. Visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Constant shoulder score for pain were determined at 3, 4, 5 and 6 months following surgery and analysed retrospectively.

Results: Of 38 included patients, there were no statistically significant between-group differences in VAS score, PSQI or Constant shoulder scores at 3 months following surgery. At 4, 5 and 6 months after surgery, the VAS score and PSQI were significantly lower, and the Constant shoulder score was significantly higher, in the experimental group versus controls.

Conclusions: Using compound betamethasone to locally block pain points after supraspinatus tendon repair surgery may significantly alleviate pain, improve sleep quality, facilitate functional shoulder exercise and achieve good shoulder function.

Keywords: Compound betamethasone; inflammation; local blocking therapy; pain; shoulder function; supraspinatus tendon.

Figure 1.

Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for nocturnal pain in patients who had undergone arthroscopic repair of supraspinatus tendon tears and had obvious neck and shoulder pain at 3 months following surgery, who either received compound betamethasone by injection at 3 months (experimental group) or did not receive compound betamethasone (control group). *Statistically significant between-group difference (P < 0.05, Student’s t-test).

Figure 2.

Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores in patients who had undergone arthroscopic repair of supraspinatus tendon tears and had obvious neck and shoulder pain at 3 months following surgery, who either received compound betamethasone by injection at 3 months (experimental group) or did not receive compound betamethasone (control group). *Statistically significant between-group difference (P < 0.05, Student’s t-test).

Figure 3.

Constant scores for shoulder function in patients who had undergone arthroscopic repair of supraspinatus tendon tears and had obvious neck and shoulder pain at 3 months following surgery, who either received compound betamethasone by injection at 3 months (experimental group) or did not receive compound betamethasone (control group). *Statistically significant between-group difference (P < 0.05, Student’s t-test).