Influence of diabetes on response to ultrasound guided hydrodistension treatment of adhesive capsulitis: a retrospective study

Abstract Background Diabetes is associated with microvascular and macrovascular complications. Although it is less recognized, diabetes also has an important role in the development of musculoskeletal disorders. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of type 2 diabetes (T2D) on the severity of adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder (AC) and on the efficacy of ultrasound guided hydrodistension treatment. Methods We conducted a retrospective longitudinal observational study, of patients with AC who underwent ultrasound guided hydrodistension at our Centre. Severity was measured with DASH (Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand) score and pain was evaluated with a score between 0 and 10. The association of T2D with baseline characteristics of AC, and with outcomes at 6–12 months was analyzed using linear and logistic regression models. Results We evaluated 120 ultrasound guided hydrodistension treatments of AC, 85 in patients without diabetes and 35 in patients with T2D. Patients with diabetes had a higher prevalence of dyslipidemia, hypertension and higher HbA1c values. The average duration of diabetes was 4.8 years (2.0, 7.9). The baseline characteristics of AC were not significantly different between patients with and without diabetes. Patients with T2D relapsed more frequently and required more reinterventions than patients without diabetes (20.0% vs 4.7%, p = 0.008), had higher post-intervention pain scale values [4.0 (0.0–5.0) vs 0.0 (0.0–5.0), p = 0.022] and higher post-intervention DASH score [0.8 (0.0–1.8) vs 0.0 (0.0–0.8), p = 0.038]. Conclusion Although baseline characteristics of AC in patients with diabetes were similar to those without diabetes, patients with diabetes had a worse response to treatment, more frequent relapses and a greater need for new interventions.