Objective To explore the effect of intra-articular corticosteroid injection on diabetic patients with frozen shoulder.

Methods From January 2017 to July 2018, 88 patients who met the inclusion criteria were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were divided into the corticosteroid injection group (CI group, 42 cases) and non-corticosteroid injection group (NCI group, 46 cases) according to whether triamcinolone acetonide was used. The visual analogue score (VAS), range of motion (ROM), constant score of the shoulder, and the excellent and good rate of constant score after six months were compared between the two groups.

Results The VAS score of the CI group were (2.74±0.45) and (2.24±0.43) points, and the constant scores were (69.10±1.76) and (75.81±1.25) points, respectively, which were better than those of the NCI group at 1 and 3 months after the treatment (all P < 0.05). After 6 months of treatment, there was no significant difference in VAS score, ROM and Constant score between the two groups. The excellent and good rate of constant score was 76.2% in the CI group and 67.4% in the NCI group, the difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusion A triamcinolone acetonide injection on diabetic patients with frozen shoulder reduces pain perception and promotes functional recovery in the early stages. An intra-articular triamcinolone acetonide injection is an effective treatment for frozen shoulder in patients with diabetes.