2022 Volume 34 Issue 4 Pages 315-322
The patient was a 78-year-old man who was diagnosed with rotator cuff tears of both shoulders by a nearby orthopedic clinic in June 2021. Acromioplasty of both shoulders was performed, but the patient was in poor condition after surgery and was admitted to our hospital in April 2022 for further examination. Based on the physical, laboratory, and imaging findings, the patient was diagnosed with RS3PE syndrome.
On admission, the range of motion of the right shoulder joint was 85° in flexion and 80° in abduction. Musculoskeletal ultrasonography MS-US showed subdeltoid bursitis and power Doppler signals in the rotator cuff. Rehabilitation intervention was classified into active and palliative inflammatory phases based on MS-US. During the inflammatory active phase, relaxation of the shoulder joint muscles and gentle joint range of motion training were performed. After confirming the disappearance of inflammation in the shoulder joint by MS-US, the patient was moved to the palliative phase of inflammation. In the palliative phase, muscle strengthening training for the deltoid, trapezius, and serratus anterior muscle and hand function training were performed. After one month of intervention, right shoulder joint range of motion improved to 120°in flexion and 120° in abduction. Shoulder joint function was improved by modifying the rehabilitation program according to the intervention phase.
The study suggested that assessment of inflammation by MS-US for RS3PE syndrome is beneficial for appropriate rehabilitation according to the inflammatory phase.
