The Accuracy of Subacromial Space Injection; An Experimental Study under Arthroscopic Assessment

Abstract

An experimental study under arthroscopy assessment, was conducted at Lerdsin General Hospital from March 1, 2006 to October 31, 2007.  Samples were 24 impingement syndrome patients that arthroscopic acromioplasty were required due to conservative treatment failure.  Twenty four residents and fellows in Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine services performed procedures by placing #21 needle 1.5 inch into subacromial space via 3 routes; posterior, lateral, antero-lateral aspect of the acromial process under arthroscopic assessment.  The accuracy rates of the 3 route approaches, assessed by arthroscopy, were 83.33 percent 58.33 and 79.17 percent respectively.  The results of the study showed that the accuracy of the subacromial space injections via the posterior and the antero-lateral route were superior than the lateral route significantly.