Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40027967›Full record

ArticleWorld journal of orthopedics2025

Effectiveness of sub-acromial injections in rotator cuff injuries: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Luana Tossolini Goulart, Fabio Teruo Matsunaga, Joao Carlos Belloti, Nicola Archetti Netto, Thays Sellan Paim, Marcel Jun Sugawara Tamaoki

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in World journal of orthopedics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Review
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Luana Tossolini GoulartDepartment of Orthopedics and Trauma, Federal University of São Paulo-Paulista School of Medicine, São Paulo 04023-062, Brazil. goulart.luana@unifesp.br.
Fabio Teruo MatsunagaDepartment of Orthopedics and Trauma, Federal University of São Paulo-Paulista School of Medicine, São Paulo 04023-062, Brazil.
Joao Carlos BellotiDepartment of Orthopedics and Trauma, Federal University of São Paulo-Paulista School of Medicine, São Paulo 04023-062, Brazil.
Nicola Archetti NettoDepartment of Orthopedics and Trauma, Federal University of São Paulo-Paulista School of Medicine, São Paulo 04023-062, Brazil.
Thays Sellan PaimDepartment of Orthopedics and Trauma, Federal University of São Paulo-Paulista School of Medicine, São Paulo 04023-062, Brazil.
Marcel Jun Sugawara TamaokiDepartment of Orthopedics and Trauma, Federal University of São Paulo-Paulista School of Medicine, São Paulo 04023-062, Brazil.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSub-acromial injections are a therapeutic option for rotator cuff injuries; however, evidence regarding the most effective drug in this context is unclear, which needs to be investigated.

aimTo evaluate the effectiveness of various sub-acromial injections for rotator cuff injuries.

methodsWe conducted a systematic review and pair-wise and network meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing sub-acromial injections for rotator cuff injuries. The interventions evaluated were hyaluronic acid (HA), platelet-rich plasma (PRP), prolotherapy, and corticosteroids. The outcomes of interest were pain and functional improvement, which were evaluated with standardized scores. The Risk of Bias 2 tool and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology were used to assess data quality.

resultsTwenty RCTs, comprising 1479 participants, were included. In the short term, HA achieved the best outcomes [pain mean difference (MD) = -1.48, 95% confidence interval (CI) -2.37 to -0.59; function MD = 10.18, 95%CI: 4.96-15.41]. In the medium term, HA, PRP, HA + PRP, and corticosteroids were not superior to placebo in improving pain. Based on function, HA + PRP was superior to placebo, corticosteroids, and PRP (MD = 26.72; 95%CI: 8.02-45.41). In the long term, HA, PRP, and corticosteroids were not superior to placebo in reducing pain. However, based on function, HA + PRP, PRP, and HA were superior to placebo, and HA + PRP had the best result (MD = 36.64; 95%CI: 31.66-33.62).

conclusionHA provides satisfactory short-term results, while HA with PRP demonstrates functional improvement in the medium and long terms. However, no intervention maintained the pain-relief effect on > 3-month follow-up.

Indexed as

Intralesional injectionNetwork meta-analysisRotator cuff injuriesShoulderSystematic review

Identifiers

PMID40027967
PMCPMC11866104

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.