Subacromial Space Injections.

Abstract

In brief When an active person experiences shoulder pain, injecting an anesthetic into the subacromial space may aid diagnosis. Such diagnostic injections may restore or improve the patient's active range of motion, eliminate apparent rotator cuff weakness, and reduce or eliminate pain in certain arcs of motion. This permits the physician to distinguish among diagnoses of impingement syndrome, rotator cuff lesions, adhesive capsulitis, and shoulder instability. Patients who have dramatic reductions in pain or improvements in active motion following a diagnostic injection may benefit from a therapeutic injection of a corticosteroid.