Compound betamethasone in the treatment of pain after supraspinatus tendon repair.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of compound betamethasone on pain points of the supraspinatus tendon by local blocking therapy after repair surgery.

METHODS

This non-randomised controlled trial included patients who underwent arthroscopic repair of supraspinatus tendon tears and who had long-term pain. At 3 months following surgery, patients were assigned to an experimental group, whose pain points were treated with compound betamethasone, or a control group who did not receive compound betamethasone. Visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Constant shoulder score for pain were determined at 3, 4, 5 and 6 months following surgery and analysed retrospectively.

RESULTS

Of 38 included patients, there were no statistically significant between-group differences in VAS score, PSQI or Constant shoulder scores at 3 months following surgery. At 4, 5 and 6 months after surgery, the VAS score and PSQI were significantly lower, and the Constant shoulder score was significantly higher, in the experimental group versus controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Using compound betamethasone to locally block pain points after supraspinatus tendon repair surgery may significantly alleviate pain, improve sleep quality, facilitate functional shoulder exercise and achieve good shoulder function.