The evolving efficacy landscape of intra-articular injections for rotator cuff injuries over time: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Rotator cuff injury (RCI), a leading cause of shoulder disability, necessitates effective non-surgical interventions. Despite widespread use of intra-articular injections (corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid [HA], prolotherapy, platelet-rich plasma [PRP]), comparative efficacy across short-, mid-, and long-term outcomes remains unclear due to heterogeneous evidence.

Purpose

To systematically review the literature to compare corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid, prolotherapy, and platelet-rich plasma for rotator cuff injuries, using network meta-analysis stratified by short-, mid-, and long-term outcomes.

Methods

A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, CNKI, VIPC, and Wanfang Data up to May 2025. Pain (V

SUBMITTER: Wu M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12659456 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature