Variations in corticosteroid/anesthetic injections for painful shoulder conditions: comparisons among orthopaedic surgeons, rheumatologists, and physical medicine and primary-care physicians

Table 6 Mean volumes [g/cc] and (standard deviation) of corticosteroid and local anesthetic. Mean volumes [cc] and (standard deviation) of cortisone and local anesthetic

	Acromioclavicular (A-C) Joint		Subacromial (S-A) Bursa		Glenohumeral (G-H) Joint
	Cortisone^a,b	Local	Cortisone^a,b	Local	Cortisone^a,b	Local
Rheumatologists	0.8 (0.3)	1.1 (0.5)	1.1 (0.5)	2.1 (2.1)	1.1 (0.5)	2.3 (1.5)
Sports Medicine & Physiatrists (PCSMs/PMRs)	0.8(0.5)	1.2 (0.6)	1.4 (0.7)	3.2 (1.9)	1.4 (0.7)	3.2 (1.9)
Orthopaedic Surgeons	0.9 (1.1)	1.5^c (1.4)	1.6 (2.1)	4.7^c (2.8)	1.6 (2.3)	4.7^c (2.6)

^a 1 cc of "cortisone" (i.e., a corticosteroid of any given type) represents the equivalent of 40 mg of Depo-Medrol.
^b There are no significant differences in cortisone doses between the three physician groups.
^c When compared to each of the other groups, orthopaedic surgeons use significantly (p < 0.01) greater volumes of local anesthetic in each location. Rheumatologists and PCSMs/PMRs do not differ in anesthetic volumes (p > 0.3).

ISSN: 1471-2474