Abhijit Prakash Datir MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

David Alister Connell MBBS, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of hydrodilatation in the management of internal impingement of shoulder in overhead athletes.

Twenty overhead athletes with internal impingement of shoulder were recruited in this study. All subjects were male and between the ages of 19-32 years with a mean of 24.4 years. Subjects included 9 tennis players, 5 cricket bowlers, 4 swimmers, 1 javelin thrower and 1 golf player. All were assessed at baseline (pre-hydrodilatation) and also after undergoing hydrodilatation at 2 weeks, 3 months and 6 months subsequently, with VAS pain scores and Oxford Shoulder Scoring method. The statistical analysis was done using paired-t test and significance level was set at p < 0.001.

The results indicated that there was a significant difference between the pre-treatment values and the values at each of the other subsequent times (p<0.001 for all). The baseline Mean Oxford Shoulder Score decreased from initial value of 29.4 to 16.6 at 2 weeks after hydrodilatation, whilst the VAS decreased from 7.6 to 2.3. This score remained significantly low at 3 months (16.8 on Oxford Score and 2.4 on VAS) and at 6 months (21.5 on Oxford Score and 5.1 on VAS). The biggest difference was at 2 weeks, where the values were dramatically lower than they were pre-treatment (difference of 12.8 on Oxford Score and 5.3 on VAS). Although the values at 6 months are higher than they were at 2 weeks, they are still significantly lower than they were before treatment. In addition to this, 90% athletes were willing to have this procedure again whereas 85% opined that they would definitely recommend this procedure to a friend with similar problem.

This limited study suggests that hydrodilatation can improve the pain scores and functional capacity in the overhead athletes with shoulder pain due to internal impingement. The most beneficial effect is gained from 2 weeks to 3 months.

Hydrodilatation can be considered as a short-term therapeutic option in overhead athletes with shoulder pain from internal impingement.

Datir, A, Connell, D, Effectiveness of Hydrodilatation in Shoulder Pain due to Internal Impingement in Overhead Athletes.  Radiological Society of North America 2007 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2007 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2007/5001152.html