Injections of Anatomical Regions and Diseases: Shoulder

Shoulder injections play an important role in the conservative management of many shoulder pathologies, having both diagnostic and therapeutic utility. This chapter provides a comprehensive and concise overview of shoulder injections, focusing on their indications, techniques, and efficacy. Shoulder injections allow the delivery of medications, such as corticosteroids, anesthetics, visco-supplements, or orthobiologic agents directly into the shoulder joint or surrounding structures. Commonly employed injection techniques include sternoclavicular joint injections, acromioclavicular joint injections, subacromial bursa injections, and glenohumeral joint injections. Each technique aims to target specific structures and provide relief by reducing inflammation, alleviating pain, and improving joint function. In addition to a correct technique, ultrasound-guided injections have been shown to further increase accuracy by up to 100%. The indications for shoulder injections encompass a wide range of conditions, including rotator cuff tendinopathy, adhesive capsulitis, osteoarthritis, and bursitis. In addition to diagnostic purposes, shoulder injections often serve as a primary or adjunctive treatment modality, offering prompt pain relief and allowing physical therapy and rehabilitation to be more effective. Numerous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of shoulder injections in providing short-term pain relief and improving functional outcomes. However, the long-term benefits and potential adverse effects of repeated injections require careful consideration. Factors such as patient selection, choice of appropriate drug, accurate injection technique, and postinjection rehabilitation help optimize treatment outcomes.