Glenohumeral ArthritisNCT06735027
Corticosteroid Injection Versus Nerve Block
A study testing intraarticular corticosteroid injection (IACI) and suprascapular nerve block (SSNB) in people with Glenohumeral Arthritis and Rotator Cuff Arthropathy, run by University of Minnesota at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to evaluate conservative pain relief measures for patients suffering from glenohumeral arthritis or rotator cuff arthropathy. Conservative management of osteoarthritis is often first line treatment, and while a corticosteroid injection is frequently used, suprascapular nerve blocks have… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 99 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Glenohumeral Arthritis, Rotator Cuff Arthropathy
- What is being tested?
- intraarticular corticosteroid injection (IACI) and suprascapular nerve block (SSNB)
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 2 Jan 2025to 2 Jan 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 99 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- diagnosis of glenohumeral osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or rotator cuff arthropathy who are being offered injection
Who cannot join
- uncontrolled diabetes (patients will be excluded if no HbA1c within a year or if it is 8 or greater"
- known allergy to steroid or anesthetic
- pregnant women
- prisoners
- patients with diminished capacity to consent to participation
- children under 18 years of age
- non-English speakers
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55414
Allison Rao
About this study
Official title: A Randomized Comparative Cohort Study of the Use of Intra-articular Corticosteroid Injection Compared to Suprascapular Nerve Block for Treatment of Shoulder Pain
The purpose of this study is to evaluate conservative pain relief measures for patients suffering from glenohumeral arthritis or rotator cuff arthropathy. Conservative management of osteoarthritis is often first line treatment, and while a corticosteroid injection is frequently used, suprascapular nerve blocks have not often been described as an analgesic option in this population.
- Conditions
- Glenohumeral Arthritis, Rotator Cuff Arthropathy
- Being tested
- intraarticular corticosteroid injection (IACI), suprascapular nerve block (SSNB)
- Keywords
- osteoarthritis, glenohumeral arthritis, rotator cuff arthropathy, corticosteroid injection, suprascapular nerve block
- Medical subject headings
- Osteoarthritis
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
intraarticular corticosteroid injection (IACI)Other
The patient will be in a seated position. Correct patient, laterality, and procedure will be performed during the timeout. Ultrasound guidance will be used to identify the glenohumeral joint. The injection site will then be disinfected with an alcohol wipe. A 21, 22, or 23-gauge needle (depending on provider preference) will be advanced into the glenohumeral joint under direct ultrasound visualization. After entry into the glenohumeral joint, a negative aspiration will be performed. At that time, up to 1 mL of 40mg/mL methylprednisolone acetate will be injected be injected into the joint space.
suprascapular nerve block (SSNB)Other
The patient will be in a seated position. Correct patient, laterality, and procedure will be performed during the timeout. Ultrasound guidance will be used to identify the suprascapular nerve in its path at the suprascapular notch. After disinfection of the injection site with alcohol, anatomic landmarks for SSNB as described by Dangoisse et al. [10] will be marked with a marking pen. Ultrasound will be utilized to guide the tip of a 21, 22, or 23 gauge (depending on provider preference) needle to the floor of the suprascapular fossa while avoiding neurovascular structures. At that time, a mixture of up to 10 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine and 20 mg triamcinolone will be slowly injected to fill the fascial contents of the suprascapular fossa under direct ultrasound guidance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| intraarticular methylprednisolone acetate injection (IACI) | Experimental | Patients with glenohumeral osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or rotator cuff arthropathy who are poor surgical candidates or who are not interested in pursuing surgery randomized to intraarticular corticosteroid injection (IACI). Receives: Other: intraarticular corticosteroid injection (IACI) |
| suprascapular nerve block (SSNB) with bupivacaine and triamcinolone | Experimental | Patients with glenohumeral osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or rotator cuff arthropathy who are poor surgical candidates or who are not interested in pursuing surgery randomized to suprascapular nerve block (SSNB) Receives: Other: suprascapular nerve block (SSNB) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
change in visual analog scale (VAS) for pain
a validated continuous scale assessment for pain
Measured: preintervention, 24 hours, 3 days, 1 month, and 3 months postintervention
single assessment numerical evaluation (SANE) of the shoulder
a validated tool providing a numerical score from 0-100 that assess shoulder function as subjectively reported by the subject. A higher score indicates superior shoulder function.
Measured: preintervention, 24 hours, 3 days, 1 month, and 3 months postintervention
Oxford shoulder score (OSS)
a validated patient-reported outcome measure used to assess shoulder pain and functional disability. Possible scores range from 0-48 with higher scores indicating superior better shoulder function.
Measured: preintervention, 24 hours, 3 days, 1 month, and 3 months postintervention
American shoulder and elbow surgeons (ASES) score
a validated survey with possible scores from 0-100 that assesses shoulder function as reported by the subject. A higher score indicates superior shoulder function.
Measured: preintervention, 24 hours, 3 days, 1 month, and 3 months postintervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted16 Dec 2024
- Study start2 Jan 2025
- Primary completion2 Jan 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion2 Jan 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Glenohumeral ArthritisStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Two study arms, with each arm receiving one of two interventions: corticosteroid shoulder injection or suprascapular nerve block
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Minnesota
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Allison Rao, MD, Principal investigator, University of Minnesota
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06735027
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- ORTHOSURG-2024-33106
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 3 Dec 2024
- Last updated
- 8 Jan 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 8 Jan 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Randomized Comparative Cohort Study of the Use of Intra-articular Corticosteroid Injection Compared to Suprascapular Nerve Block for Treatment of Shoulder Pain
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06735027
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ORTHOSURG-2024-33106
- Conditions
- Glenohumeral Arthritis, Rotator Cuff Arthropathy
- Keywords
- osteoarthritis, glenohumeral arthritis, rotator cuff arthropathy, corticosteroid injection, suprascapular nerve block
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of MinnesotaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 2 Jan 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 2 Jan 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 2 Jan 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 16 Dec 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate conservative pain relief measures for patients suffering from glenohumeral arthritis or rotator cuff arthropathy. Conservative management of osteoarthritis is often first line treatment, and while a corticosteroid injection is frequently used, suprascapular nerve blocks have not often been described as an analgesic option in this population.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Two study arms, with each arm receiving one of two interventions: corticosteroid shoulder injection or suprascapular nerve block
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| intraarticular methylprednisolone acetate injection (IACI) | Experimental | Other: intraarticular corticosteroid injection (IACI)Patients with glenohumeral osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or rotator cuff arthropathy who are poor surgical candidates or who are not interested in pursuing surgery randomized to intraarticular corticosteroid injection (IACI). |
| suprascapular nerve block (SSNB) with bupivacaine and triamcinolone | Experimental | Other: suprascapular nerve block (SSNB)Patients with glenohumeral osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or rotator cuff arthropathy who are poor surgical candidates or who are not interested in pursuing surgery randomized to suprascapular nerve block (SSNB) |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 99 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- diagnosis of glenohumeral osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or rotator cuff arthropathy who are being offered injection
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- uncontrolled diabetes (patients will be excluded if no HbA1c within a year or if it is 8 or greater"
- known allergy to steroid or anesthetic
- pregnant women
- prisoners
- patients with diminished capacity to consent to participation
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| intraarticular corticosteroid injection (IACI)The patient will be in a seated position. Correct patient, laterality, and procedure will be performed during the timeout. Ultrasound guidance will be used to identify the glenohumeral joint. The injection site will then be disinfected with an alcohol wipe. A 21, 22, or 23-gauge needle (depending on provider preference) will be advanced into the glenohumeral joint under direct ultrasound visualization. After entry into the glenohumeral joint, a negative aspiration will be performed. At that time, up to 1 mL of 40mg/mL methylprednisolone acetate will be injected be injected into the joint space. | Other | intraarticular methylprednisolone acetate injection (IACI) |
| suprascapular nerve block (SSNB)The patient will be in a seated position. Correct patient, laterality, and procedure will be performed during the timeout. Ultrasound guidance will be used to identify the suprascapular nerve in its path at the suprascapular notch. After disinfection of the injection site with alcohol, anatomic landmarks for SSNB as described by Dangoisse et al. [10] will be marked with a marking pen. Ultrasound will be utilized to guide the tip of a 21, 22, or 23 gauge (depending on provider preference) needle to the floor of the suprascapular fossa while avoiding neurovascular structures. At that time, a mixture of up to 10 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine and 20 mg triamcinolone will be slowly injected to fill the fascial contents of the suprascapular fossa under direct ultrasound guidance. | Other | suprascapular nerve block (SSNB) with bupivacaine and triamcinolone |
Primary outcome
change in visual analog scale (VAS) for pain
Time frame: preintervention, 24 hours, 3 days, 1 month, and 3 months postintervention
a validated continuous scale assessment for pain
single assessment numerical evaluation (SANE) of the shoulder
Time frame: preintervention, 24 hours, 3 days, 1 month, and 3 months postintervention
a validated tool providing a numerical score from 0-100 that assess shoulder function as subjectively reported by the subject. A higher score indicates superior shoulder function.
Oxford shoulder score (OSS)
Time frame: preintervention, 24 hours, 3 days, 1 month, and 3 months postintervention
a validated patient-reported outcome measure used to assess shoulder pain and functional disability. Possible scores range from 0-48 with higher scores indicating superior better shoulder function.
American shoulder and elbow surgeons (ASES) score
Time frame: preintervention, 24 hours, 3 days, 1 month, and 3 months postintervention
a validated survey with possible scores from 0-100 that assesses shoulder function as reported by the subject. A higher score indicates superior shoulder function.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 8 Jan 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Allison Rao, MD principal investigator
University of Minnesota
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing intraarticular corticosteroid injection (IACI) and suprascapular nerve block (SSNB) in people with Glenohumeral Arthritis and Rotator Cuff Arthropathy, run by University of Minnesota at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 8 Jan 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Allison Rao (608-445-0545, rao00149@umn.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
change in visual analog scale (VAS) for pain (time frame: preintervention, 24 hours, 3 days, 1 month, and 3 months postintervention). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 8 Jan 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 30 Oct 2026.