Clinical and Economic Evaluation of Point-of-care Ultrasound-guided Infiltration for Subacromial and Carpal Tunnel Syndromes in Primary Care: a Cluster-randomized Study Protocol. (Q-EPICAP)
The aim of this clinical trial is to determine whether point-of-care ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injection is more effective than conventional injection guided by anatomical landmarks or standard oral medication for patients with upper-extremity conditions (subacromial impingement syndrome [SAS] or carpal tunnel syndrome [CTS]) in primary care.
The main questions this study seeks to answer are:
Does ultrasound-guided injection provide superior long-term pain relief compared to blind anatomical injection and oral medication?
Does ultrasound-guided injection lead to better functional recovery and improved health-related quality of life in patients?
Is ultrasound-guided injection a cost-effective strategy from both the healthcare system and societal perspectives (including reducing sick leave)?
This study represents the quantitative phase of the mixed-methods Q-EPICAP study. Researchers will compare three parallel groups across 23 primary care centers to determine the most effective and efficient treatment strategy.
Participants will:
Receive one of three assigned treatments: blind anatomical infiltration (Group I), ultrasound-guided infiltration (Group UI), or standard oral drug therapy (Group P).
Attend follow-up assessments at baseline and at 15, 30, 90, and 180 days after the initial intervention.
Complete questionnaires to assess pain intensity (Visual Analog Scale), upper limb function (ASES or Boston Disability Assessment Questionnaire), and quality of life (EQ-5D-5L).
Provide data on medical resource utilization and sick leave to assess socioeconomic costs.
연구 개요
상태
상세 설명
Upper extremity pathologies, particularly subacromial impingement syndrome (SAS) and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), represent a significant clinical and socioeconomic burden for primary care systems, primarily due to functional disability and prolonged sick leave.
Although corticosteroid injections are frequently used, traditional blind injections guided by anatomical landmarks often lack anatomical precision. Point-of-care ultrasound-guided injections offer greater accuracy and better short-term clinical outcomes; however, their cost-effectiveness in routine clinical practice has not yet been adequately assessed.
This pragmatic, prospective, multicenter, cluster-randomized clinical trial includes 23 participating primary care centers (clusters) in Lleida, Spain, with a 6-month longitudinal follow-up. This study constitutes the quantitative phase of the mixed-methods Q-EPICAP project.
A total of 225 adult patients diagnosed with SAS or CTS and presenting with baseline pain (VAS ≥ 3) were divided into three parallel groups:
- Group I: Anatomical landmark-guided infiltration.
- Group UI: Ultrasound-guided infiltration performed by family physicians.
- Group P: Standard oral pharmacological treatment.
Data collection was performed at baseline and at 15, 30, 90, and 180 days post-intervention. The primary outcome measure was pain intensity (VAS). Secondary outcomes included upper limb function (ASES and Boston questionnaires), health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-5L), and a comprehensive economic evaluation (cost-effectiveness and cost-utility indices) that integrates the perspectives of healthcare systems and society.
연구 유형
등록 (추정된)
단계
- 4단계
연락처 및 위치
연구 장소
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Lleida
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Lleida, Lleida, 스페인, 25100
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Atención Primaria (IDIAP Jordi Gol)
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참여기준
자격 기준
공부할 수 있는 나이
- 성인
- 고령자
건강한 자원 봉사자를 받아들입니다
설명
Inclusion Criteria:
- Patients aged 18 years or older presenting in primary care. Clinical diagnosis of subacromial impingement syndrome (shoulder pain from tendon compression) or carpal tunnel syndrome (wrist nerve compression). Moderate to severe pain intensity, defined as a score of greater than or equal to 3 on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS >= 3) at baseline. Patient must understand the study procedures and provide written informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Previous corticosteroid infiltration in the target joint/structure within the last 6 months. History of major trauma, active infection, or previous surgery in the affected shoulder or wrist. Underlying systemic inflammatory diseases (for example, rheumatoid arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica). Known hypersensitivity or contraindications to corticosteroids (Betamethasone) or local anesthetics (Mepivacaine). Pregnancy or breastfeeding. Red flags suggesting tumor, fracture, or severe neurological deficit.
공부 계획
연구는 어떻게 설계됩니까?
디자인 세부사항
- 주 목적: 치료
- 할당: 무작위
- 중재 모델: 병렬 할당
- 마스킹: 하나의
무기와 개입
참가자 그룹 / 팔 |
개입 / 치료 |
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활성 비교기: Standard Oral Treatment
Patients in this cohort are treated exclusively with standard systemic oral drug treatment of routine clinical practice and physiotherapy recommendations according to established clinical guidelines, without receiving local procedures.
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Prescription of systemic oral pharmacological treatment according to standard clinical practice and guidelines, which may include individual or combined use of the following therapies, or no pharmacological prescription if deemed appropriate by the clinician:
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활성 비교기: Conventional Infiltration
Patients in this cohort receive a corticosteroid infiltration, blinded to anatomical landmarks, for subacromial impingement syndrome or carpal tunnel syndrome, administered by primary care physicians following standard clinical practice.
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Local infiltration consisting of a combination of a corticosteroid and a local anesthetic, administered in a 1:1 volume ratio (1 ml + 1 ml, total volume 2 ml):
In the Conventional Infiltration group, the solution is injected using the standard anatomical landmark technique (blind technique). |
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활성 비교기: Ultrasound-Guided Infiltration
Patients in this cohort receive an ultrasound-guided corticosteroid infiltration, performed by advanced-trained primary care physicians, ensuring anatomical accuracy during the procedure, and following standard clinical practice.
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Local infiltration consisting of a combination of a corticosteroid and a local anesthetic, administered in a 1:1 volume ratio (1 ml + 1 ml, total volume 2 ml):
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연구는 무엇을 측정합니까?
주요 결과 측정
결과 측정 |
측정값 설명 |
기간 |
|---|---|---|
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Change from Baseline in Pain Intensity using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
기간: Baseline (Day 0), 3 months, 6 months, and 9 months post-intervention.
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Pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), where patients rate their pain on a line from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain).
The primary endpoint is the change in the score from baseline to 3, 6, and 9 months.
Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity.
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Baseline (Day 0), 3 months, 6 months, and 9 months post-intervention.
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2차 결과 측정
결과 측정 |
측정값 설명 |
기간 |
|---|---|---|
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Change from Baseline in Shoulder Function using the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) Score
기간: Baseline (Day 0), 3, 6, and 9 months post-intervention.
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The ASES score evaluates shoulder pain and activities of daily living.
It consists of a patient-reported section (10 items) and a clinical assessment.
The total score ranges from 0 to 100, where 100 indicates better shoulder function and less pain.
We will assess the change in this score relative to baseline.
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Baseline (Day 0), 3, 6, and 9 months post-intervention.
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Change from Baseline in Carpal Tunnel Symptoms and Function using the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ)
기간: Baseline (Day 0), 3, 6, and 9 months post-intervention.
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The BCTQ consists of two scales: the Symptom Severity Scale (11 items) and the Functional Status Scale (8 items).
Each item is scored from 1 (mildest) to 5 (most severe).
The final score is the average of the responses.
Higher scores indicate more severe symptoms and greater functional impairment.
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Baseline (Day 0), 3, 6, and 9 months post-intervention.
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Change from Baseline in Health-Related Quality of Life (EQ-5D-5L)
기간: Baseline (Day 0), 3, 6, and 9 months post-intervention.
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The EQ-5D-5L questionnaire assesses 5 dimensions of health (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression) across 5 levels of severity.
It also includes a Visual Analog Scale (EQ-VAS) from 0 (worst imaginable health) to 100 (best imaginable health).
Higher index values and VAS scores represent better health status.
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Baseline (Day 0), 3, 6, and 9 months post-intervention.
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공동 작업자 및 조사자
수사관
- 수석 연구원: Marta Ortega Bravo, MD, PhD, Institut Català de la Salut. Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Atención Primaria (IDIAP Jordi Gol)
간행물 및 유용한 링크
일반 간행물
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- Luime JJ, Koes BW, Hendriksen IJ, Burdorf A, Verhagen AP, Miedema HS, Verhaar JA. Prevalence and incidence of shoulder pain in the general population; a systematic review. Scand J Rheumatol. 2004;33(2):73-81. doi: 10.1080/03009740310004667.
- Silverstein BA, Viikari-Juntura E, Fan ZJ, Bonauto DK, Bao S, Smith C. Natural course of nontraumatic rotator cuff tendinitis and shoulder symptoms in a working population. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2006 Apr;32(2):99-108. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.985.
- Genova A, Dix O, Saefan A, Thakur M, Hassan A. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Review of Literature. Cureus. 2020 Mar 19;12(3):e7333. doi: 10.7759/cureus.7333.
- Raja SN, Carr DB, Cohen M, Finnerup NB, Flor H, Gibson S, Keefe FJ, Mogil JS, Ringkamp M, Sluka KA, Song XJ, Stevens B, Sullivan MD, Tutelman PR, Ushida T, Vader K. The revised International Association for the Study of Pain definition of pain: concepts, challenges, and compromises. Pain. 2020 Sep 1;161(9):1976-1982. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001939.
- Urwin M, Symmons D, Allison T, Brammah T, Busby H, Roxby M, Simmons A, Williams G. Estimating the burden of musculoskeletal disorders in the community: the comparative prevalence of symptoms at different anatomical sites, and the relation to social deprivation. Ann Rheum Dis. 1998 Nov;57(11):649-55. doi: 10.1136/ard.57.11.649.
- Roel-Valdes J, Arizo-Luque V, Ronda-Perez E. [Epidemiology of occupationally-caused carpal tunnel syndrome in the province of Alicante, Spain 1996-2004]. Rev Esp Salud Publica. 2006 Jul-Aug;80(4):395-409. doi: 10.1590/s1135-57272006000400009. Spanish.
- Cunnington J, Marshall N, Hide G, Bracewell C, Isaacs J, Platt P, Kane D. A randomized, double-blind, controlled study of ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injection into the joint of patients with inflammatory arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 2010 Jul;62(7):1862-9. doi: 10.1002/art.27448.
- Reid KJ, Harker J, Bala MM, Truyers C, Kellen E, Bekkering GE, Kleijnen J. Epidemiology of chronic non-cancer pain in Europe: narrative review of prevalence, pain treatments and pain impact. Curr Med Res Opin. 2011 Feb;27(2):449-62. doi: 10.1185/03007995.2010.545813. Epub 2011 Jan 3.
- Teunis T, Lubberts B, Reilly BT, Ring D. A systematic review and pooled analysis of the prevalence of rotator cuff disease with increasing age. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2014 Dec;23(12):1913-1921. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2014.08.001.
- Jolly M, Curran JJ. Underuse of intra-articular and periarticular corticosteroid injections by primary care physicians: discomfort with the technique. J Clin Rheumatol. 2003 Jun;9(3):187-92. doi: 10.1097/01.RHU.0000073587.90836.23.
- Lopez-Marina V, Pizarro-Romero G, Costa-Bardaji N, Mata-Navarro A, Vazquez-Blanco JR. [Evaluation of infiltrations performed in primary care]. Aten Primaria. 2005 Dec;36(10):544-9. doi: 10.1016/s0212-6567(05)70564-3. Spanish.
- Soh E, Li W, Ong KO, Chen W, Bautista D. Image-guided versus blind corticosteroid injections in adults with shoulder pain: a systematic review. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2011 Jun 25;12:137. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-12-137.
- Korbe S, Udoji EN, Ness TJ, Udoji MA. Ultrasound-guided interventional procedures for chronic pain management. Pain Manag. 2015;5(6):465-82. doi: 10.2217/pmt.15.46. Epub 2015 Sep 24.
- Zufferey P, Revaz S, Degailler X, Balague F, So A. A controlled trial of the benefits of ultrasound-guided steroid injection for shoulder pain. Joint Bone Spine. 2012 Mar;79(2):166-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jbspin.2011.04.001. Epub 2011 May 25.
- Stewart WF, Ricci JA, Chee E, Morganstein D. Lost productive work time costs from health conditions in the United States: results from the American Productivity Audit. J Occup Environ Med. 2003 Dec;45(12):1234-46. doi: 10.1097/01.jom.0000099999.27348.78.
- Garnaes KK, Morkved S, Salvesen O, Tonne T, Furan L, Gronhaug G, Vasseljen O, Johannessen HH. What factors are associated with health-related quality of life among patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain? A cross-sectional study in primary health care. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2021 Jan 22;22(1):102. doi: 10.1186/s12891-020-03914-x.
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- Karcz WM, Artigues-Barbera E, Ortega Bravo M, Pooler Perea A, Palacin Peruga JM, Gimeno Pi I. Assessment of Pain Treatments in Disorders of Upper Limbs: A Qualitative Study Protocol Based on Patients' Experiences. Nurs Rep. 2023 May 22;13(2):803-810. doi: 10.3390/nursrep13020070.
연구 기록 날짜
연구 주요 날짜
연구 시작 (실제)
기본 완료 (추정된)
연구 완료 (추정된)
연구 등록 날짜
최초 제출
QC 기준을 충족하는 최초 제출
처음 게시됨 (실제)
연구 기록 업데이트
마지막 업데이트 게시됨 (실제)
QC 기준을 충족하는 마지막 업데이트 제출
마지막으로 확인됨
추가 정보
이 연구와 관련된 용어
추가 관련 MeSH 약관
기타 연구 ID 번호
- code 22/050-EOm
- PROJ-22/13 (기타 보조금/기금 번호: Jordi Gol Primary Care Research Institute (IDIAPJGol))
- PIC-26/7 (기타 보조금/기금 번호: Jordi Gol Primary Care Research Institute (IDIAPJGol))
개별 참가자 데이터(IPD) 계획
개별 참가자 데이터(IPD)를 공유할 계획입니까?
IPD 계획 설명
IPD 공유 기간
IPD 공유 액세스 기준
- Who: Qualified academic researchers with a methodologically sound proposal and approved institutional affiliation.
- What: Anonymized individual participant data (IPDs) that support the primary results, along with the Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan (SAP).
- How: Access requests must be formally submitted via email to the corresponding author. To obtain the data, the requester must obtain approval from their own Institutional Ethics Committee and sign a legally binding Data Access Agreement to ensure data confidentiality and guarantee that the data will only be used for the approved research purpose.
IPD 공유 지원 정보 유형
- 연구_프로토콜
- 수액
약물 및 장치 정보, 연구 문서
미국 FDA 규제 의약품 연구
미국 FDA 규제 기기 제품 연구
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