Article Text
Abstract
Introduction Shoulder pain is highly prevalent and a common reason for individuals to seek physical therapy. Thanks to technological advances, we have improved treatments, increasing their effectiveness and decreasing the number of sessions. Invasive Physical Therapy is formed by several modern techniques whose results are clearly optimised through the use of ultrasound imaging.
Objectives The objective of this study is to assess whether it is possible to reduce pain and improve quality of life in patients with supraspinatus tendinosis by the application of ultrasound-guided percutaneous treatment Electrolysis.
Material and methods We report a case of a patient with supraspinatus tendinosis who refered chronic pain with six months of development, and a painful and limitatedshoulder range of motion. Pain was estimated in VAS scale at 8/10.
We used colourdopplerMindray ultrasound system, model Z6 and an approved electrolysis equipment EPTE V01, classification IIa, Ionclinics.
Patient received 4 sessions ofultrasound-guided percutaneous electrolysistreatment of1,20 minutes with an intensity of 350 µA, combined with excentric work +cryotherapy, and isometric work +thermotherapy, and McConnell Tape.
Results Patient: 68 year old woman, 54 Kgr weight, height 1.40.
After the 4th session shoulder range of motion improved 20% and pain decreased on VAS scale up to 4/10.
The destruction of unstructured tissue by electrolysis can be seen in last ultrasound picture. You can also see the accuracy of ultrasound-guided therapeutic act.
Discussion Significant improvement was found, both in pain reduction and increased shoulder range of motion. So far this had implications in better quality of life and less medication. The use of ultrasound imaging allowed an accuracy and reliability hardly achievable without this method.
Conclusions Ultrasound Imaging is a very useful technique in clinical practice, but operator dependent, and with a long and slowly curve of learning.
Normal and pathologic anatomy knowledgement, sonographic parameters adjustment and tracking of a systematic methodology, are essential to make a successful study.
A frequent error in ultrasounds imaging report is incorrect interpretation by technical limitations of device or operator.