Injection of the subacromial-subdeltoid bursa: blind or ultrasound-guided?

Figures & data

Study groups after random allocation to either blind or US-guided corticosteroid injection

	Blind	US-guided	Total
No. of patients	10	10	20
Mean age range	48	40	44
	28–61	24–54	24–61
Male : Female	7:3	5:5	12:8
Right : Left	6:4	7:3	13:7

Figure 1A. Ultrasonographic image showing the supraspinatus tendon (SSP) in the longitudinal plane. The advancing needle (arrows) under real-time ultrasound guidance has entered the subacromial-subdeltoid bursa (between arrowheads). D: deltoid muscle; H: humeral head.

Figure 1B. Ultrasonographic image after injection of about 5 ml of fluid (arrows) into the subacromial-subdeltoid bursa. D: deltoid muscle; SSP: supraspinatus tendon.

Figure 2. Semi-coronal gradient T1-weighted (FLASH 3D) MR image of the shoulder after injection of 5 mL fluid (*) into the subacromial-subdeltoid bursa. D: deltoid muscle; SSP: supraspinatus tendon.