Ultrasound-guided injection for the biceps brachii tendinitis: results and experience

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify the results of ultrasound-guided injection of corticosteroid for biceps brachii tendinitis. In this randomized and prospective study, we evaluated 45 patients who were treated by free-hand injection without ultrasound guidance (group A) and 53 patients who were treated by ultrasound-guided injection (group B). The mean age was 47 y (range, 28 to 72). The average follow-up was 33 weeks (range, 24 to 56). The visual analog scale score decreased from 7.1 ± 2.3 before injection to 4.2 ± 3.1 at follow-up in group A and from 6.9 ± 2.6 to 2.1 ± 1.9 in group B (p < 0.05). The Constant-Murley score improved from 31.4 ± 11.6 before injection to 73.5 ± 19.2 at follow-up in group A and from 32.5 ± 14.7 to 85.5 ± 10.3 (p < 0.01). The ultrasound-guided injection therefore demonstrated a statistically significantly greater degree of pain relief. However, the outcome of injection was not satisfactory for the patients who demonstrated severely frayed tendons at arthroscopy. There were no complications related to the injection in both groups. Corticosteroid injection under ultrasound guidance is a safe and well-tolerated procedure with a satisfactory rate of symptom relief in patients with biceps brachii tendinitis.