Objective: This study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of combining adhesion release under brachial plexus block with silver needle warm acupuncture for the treatment of frozen shoulder, compared to adhesion release under brachial plexus block alone.
Methods: A total of 72 patients with frozen shoulder were randomly assigned to receive either adhesion release under brachial plexus block (control group) or adhesion release under brachial plexus block plus silver needle warm acupuncture (treatment group). Outcome measures included changes in shoulder pain scores assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), shoulder mobility scores evaluated using the Constant-Murley Score, shoulder function scores measured using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire, and overall clinical outcomes based on a comprehensive evaluation. Both groups received functional exercise 2 days after the operation, and the treatment duration was 3 weeks.
Results: The treatment group exhibited a mean reduction in shoulder pain scores of 3.2 points on the Short-form McGill pain scores, while the control group showed a reduction of 1.5 points. Shoulder mobility scores, assessed by the Constant-Murley Score, increased by an average of 18.6 points in the treatment group, compared to 9.2 points in the control group. Moreover, the treatment group achieved better shoulder function scores on the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire, with an average improvement of 25.4 points, compared to 13.8 points in the control group.
Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into the clinical efficacy of adhesion release under brachial plexus block plus silver needle warm acupuncture for frozen shoulder, there are still areas that warrant further investigation. Future research could focus on the long-term effects of the treatment, optimal treatment duration and frequency, comparison with other treatment modalities, and the inclusion of larger sample sizes to enhance the robustness of the findings.