Is Hydro Dissection Treatment More Successful With Ultrasonography or Fluoroscopy in the Management of Adhesive Capsulitis?

Adhesive capsulitis is a common condition characterized by painful restriction of both active and passive glenohumeral movement, especially when joint degeneration alone is insufficient to explain the limitation. The condition is more prevalent in women and has a strong correlation with diabetes mellitus and thyroid dysfunction. The prevalence in the general population is approximately 3-5%, but it can reach up to 20% in diabetic patients.

The primary goals of treatment are to alleviate pain, improve mobility, shorten symptom duration, and facilitate a return to normal activities. The suprascapular nerve is a major sensory nerve for the posterior and superior aspects of the shoulder and is an accessible target for blockade. Conditions in which suprascapular nerve block is used include chronic shoulder pain syndromes such as rheumatoid arthritis, glenohumeral osteoarthritis, post-stroke shoulder pain, motor neuron disease-related shoulder pain, and various rotator cuff disorders.

Hydrodilatation therapy works by releasing the contracted joint capsule and reducing fibrosis, while corticosteroids exert strong anti-inflammatory effects throughout the shoulder joint. The high-pressure transmission mechanism used in hydrodilatation enhances the distribution of corticosteroids throughout the glenohumeral joint capsule. The procedure involves injecting fluid into the joint cavity under radiological guidance using either ultrasound or fluoroscopy.

This study aims to determine whether performing hydrodilatation under ultrasound versus fluoroscopy guidance in addition to suprascapular nerve block leads to differences in joint range of motion, VAS scores, and SPADI disability index outcomes in patients diagnosed with adhesive capsulitis. Assessments will be performed before the procedure, on the day of the procedure, and at the 3rd month