Sodium hyaluronate injection into the glenohumeral joint is a treatment option in the management of
adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder. We hypothesized that a systematic review would demonstrate that intra-articular
sodium hyaluronate injections would result in significant improvements in passive range-of-motion, shoulder and general clinical outcome measures, and
pain scales at short- and mid-term follow-up. Multiple medical databases were searched for levels I-IV evidence with a priori defined specific inclusion and exclusion study criteria. Clinical outcome measures used included Constant score, VAS
pain scores, Cho functional scores, JOA scores, and range-of-motion measurements. Seven studies were included (four Level I and three Level IV; 292 subjects, 297 shoulders). Mean subject age was 59.1 years and mean pre-
treatment duration of symptoms was 7.3 months. 140 subjects underwent one or multiple hyaluronate
injections (120 glenohumeral joint; 20 subacromial bursa). Clinical follow-up was mean 9.0 weeks.
Sodium hyaluronate injection into the glenohumeral joint has significantly improved shoulder range-of-motion, constant scores, and
pain at short-term follow-up following treatment of
adhesive capsulitis. Isolated intra-articular hyaluronate injection has significantly better constant scores than control. Isolated intra-articular hyaluronate injection has equivalent clinical outcomes and range-of-motion compared to intra-articular
corticosteroid injection. Intra-articular hyaluronate injection was safe, with no reported complications within the studies in this review.
Sodium hyaluronate injection into the glenohumeral joint is a safe, effective treatment in the management of
adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder. Short-term evidence indicates that clinical outcomes are better than control and equivalent to intra-articular
corticosteroid injection.