The Disease-Modifying Effects of a Single Intra-Articular Corticosteroid Injection during the Freezing Phase of Frozen Shoulder in an Animal Model

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences 2024-09, Vol.25 (17), p.9585
• Main Authors: Ahn, Yongjin, Lee, Sun-Jae, Moon, Yong Suk, Lee, Yoon-Jin, Park, Jung Hyun, Chun, Yongmin, Kwon, Dong Rak, Lee, Sang Chul
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adrenal Cortex Hormones - administration & dosage; Adrenal Cortex Hormones - pharmacology; Animals; Bursitis - drug therapy; Bursitis - pathology; corticosteroid; Disease Models, Animal; disease-modifying treatment; frozen shoulder; Inflammation; Injections, Intra-Articular; intra-articular injection; Male; range of motion; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Shoulder; Shoulder Joint - drug effects; Shoulder Joint - pathology; Steroids
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms25179585

Although frequently prescribed for frozen shoulder, it is not known if corticosteroid injections improve the course of frozen shoulder. This study aimed to assess the disease-modifying effects of an intra-articular corticosteroid administration at the freezing phase of frozen shoulder. Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups. Their unilateral shoulders were immobilized for the first 3 days in all groups, followed by an intra-articular corticosteroid injection in Group A, an injection and the cessation of immobilization in Group B, no further intervention in Group C, and the cessation of immobilization in Group D. All rats were sacrificed in Week 3 of study, at which point the passive shoulder abduction angles were measured and the axillary recess tissues were retrieved for histological and Western blot analyses. The passive shoulder abduction angles at the time of sacrifice were 138° ± 8° (Group A), 146° ± 5° (Group B), 95° ± 11° (Group C), 132° ± 8° (Group D), and 158° ± 2° (Control). The histological assessments and Western blots showed greater fibrosis and inflammation in the groups that did not receive the corticosteroid injection (Groups C and D) compared to the corticosteroid-injected groups (Groups A and B). These findings demonstrate the anti-inflammatory and disease-modifying effects of corticosteroid injections during the freezing phase of frozen shoulder in an animal model.