US Guided Hydrodistension in South London for Frozen Shoulder
What is a shoulder hydrodistension?
We are a leading musculoskeletal clinic offering diagnostic ultrasound and ultrasound guided procedures such as hydrodistension for frozen shoulder. We perform all procedures as part of a comprehensive and global management of your condition.
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We offer our services at our South London clinic and also offer home visits in the South London area. A free telephone consultation is available to understand whether an ultrasound scan will be helpful and appropriate in your particular case.
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Booking is quick and easy, please see our book appointment page for more details.
What is a shoulder hydrodistension?
Hydrodistension, also called hydrodilatation, is a technique is used to treat capsulitis (frozen shoulder) when other treatments have failed. Frozen shoulder is characterized by pain and stiffness in the shoulder joint resulting in severe limited mobility. After numbing the shoulder with an anaesthetic agent, sterile saline is injected to attempt to stretch the joint and help to recover some mobility. Here's an overview of the expected benefits:
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Mechanical Stretching as the injected fluid creates pressure within the joint and distend the capsule. This stretching aims to break up adhesions that may have formed within the joint capsule, contributing to the restricted range of motion.
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Increased Joint Space temporarily with the fluid occupying the inside of the shoulder joint. This expansion can help improve shoulder mobility and reduce the sensation of tightness associated with frozen shoulder.
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Facilitating physiotherapy and exercises as the increased joint space created by the procedure can make it easier to move, which plays a crucial role in restoring normal shoulder function.
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Pain Relief following the associated injection of corticosteroid also contribute to pain relief for individuals with frozen shoulder.
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Recent medical research suggests that hydrodistension helps more in the short term mobility in comparison to steroid injection alone. However it is not clear if it helps in the long term. We typically recommend this procedure if more conservative management has failed and prior to consider surgical management.
What our patients say
How an hydrodistension is performed?
Here's an overview of how shoulder hydrodistension is typically performed:
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An ultrasound scan is first performed to exclude other pathologies and confirm where the injection will be performed.
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We first inject local anaesthetics around and inside the shoulder joint in order to minimize pain during the procedure.
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A sterile saline solution is injected slowly into the joint capsule to attempt to stretch the joint capsule.
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A corticosteroid injection is then performed at the end of the procedure.
Why should I book my US guided hydrodistension at Insight MSK?
All our procedures and diagnostics are part of a comprehensive management of your condition in line with recent scientific evidence. All injections are ultrasound guided, which have been proven to be more effective and are all preceded by a thorough clinical examination. We do not only diagnose or "fix" problems but we strive to understand the context and causative factors which have led to your condition in order to prevent re-occurrence. These require several skills and the ability to deal with complex and multiple information which often need the expertise from different specialists and therefore multiple appointments, travel, fees... We offer all these services together to give you a prompt single point of contact to assess, diagnose and manage your condition thanks to our unique and vast experience in musculoskeletal medicine.
Your clinician
All our injection treatments are carried out by our experienced physiotherapist and injection clinician, Maxence Legout. Max has over 15 years experience and holds a senior position in the NHS, where he carries out over 2000 ultrasound-guided injection & procedures every year.
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For more information please see our clinician page, or book a free telephone or online consultation to speak to Max directly.
Is an ultrasound guided hydrodistension painful ?
The level of pain experienced during an ultrasound guided hydrodistension can vary from person to person. Some individuals may find the procedure uncomfortable, while others may experience more significant pain. We use local anaesthesia to numb the area before performing the procedure, which can help minimize pain during the actual injection. After the procedure, patients may experience some soreness, but this is typically temporary.
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We encourage you to communicate any concerns with us to ensure a comfortable and informative experience.
MEDICAL REVIEW - The medical information on this page has been reviewed for accuracy by Maxence Legout, MSc, Physiotherapist.