BRIEF RESEARCH REPORT article
Front. Neurol.
Sec. Neurorehabilitation
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fneur.2025.1620168
Hemiplegic shoulder pain, a combined approach with suprascapular nerve block and intra-articular corticosteroid injections: a case series
Provisionally accepted
- 1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University Hospital Saint Jacques, Nantes, France
- 2Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, CMPR Côte d'Amour, Saint-Nazaire, France
- 3Department of orthopedic surgery, university hospital, Nantes, France
- 4Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital, Nantes, France
- 5Laboratory Movement-Interactions-Performance (MIP), EA4334, University of Nantes,, Nantes, France
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Background: Hemiplegic shoulder pain (HSP) is a prevalent and disabling condition affecting patients after stroke or traumatic brain injury. There is currently no consensus regarding infiltrative strategies. A combined approach, involving suprascapular nerve block and intra-articular corticosteroid injection, has been proposed for HSP and capsulitis, yet evidence remains limited.Objective: This study presents the results (efficacy and safety) of this combined approach to alleviate pain and improve passive range of motion (PROM).Methods: A retrospective, multicenter observational study (36 patients).Results: At one month, the mean pain intensity (visual analogue scale VAS) significantly decreased from 6.5 ± 1.5 at baseline to 1.9 ± 2.1, and PROM showed significant improvement across all three planes (mean PROM gains: 28.4° in abduction, 29.2° in flexion, and 13.4° in external rotation). The benefits were largely maintained at three months, and no serious complications were observed (one vasovagal episode).Conclusion: The combined approach is a clinically feasible, safe, and effective method for treating HSP in PRM settings.
Keywords: Hemiplegia, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury, Shoulder Pain, Nerve Blocks, Intraarticular injections
Received: 29 Apr 2025; Accepted: 13 Jun 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 GAHIER, Lecler, Gadbled, Arnolfo and Gross. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Matthieu GAHIER, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University Hospital Saint Jacques, Nantes, France
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