不同程度肩峰下撞击综合征的临床检查准确性

背景：已经有多种检查方法用于诊断肩袖疾病，但尚缺乏它们用于诊断单纯滑囊炎、肩袖部分撕裂及全层撕裂方面的研究。本研究假设肩袖损伤的严重程度可影响常用临床检查方法的诊断价值。方法：三种不同程度的肩袖损伤，即滑囊炎、肩袖部分撕裂和肩袖全层撕裂，通过八项物理检查方法（Neer撞击征、Hawkins-Kennedy撞击征、疼痛弧征、冈上肌肌力试验、Speed试验、交叉内收试验、坠臂试验和冈下肌肌力试验）来评价它们的诊断价值，以似然比和验后概率作为评价指标。并用前向逐步logistic回归分析法确定诊断不同程度撞击征的最佳组合检查。结果：八项检查方法的灵敏度、特异度、阳性预测值、阴性预测值和总体准确性差异非常大。Hawkins-Kennedy撞击征、疼痛弧征和冈下肌肌力试验的组合对各种程度撞击征的验后概率最高（95％），疼痛弧征、坠臂征和冈下肌肌力试验组合对肩袖全层撕裂的验后概率最高（91％）。结论：撞击征的严重程度影响这些常用临床检查方法的诊断价值。评估肩袖损伤患者的病情时，应考虑这些检查方法准确性的差异。     

肩关节检查

肩关节检查包括病史采集、一般检查、特殊检查及放射学检查。病史采集对于疾病的诊断有重要意义。一般检查按照望、触、动、量顺序进行。望是看肩关节有无畸形,肌肉有无萎缩,肩胛骨运动是否正常。触主要看肩锁关节、结节间沟、肩峰外缘及三角肌区有无压痛。肩关节的主、被动活动范围对于疾病的诊断有重要意义。肩峰下撞击综合征特殊检查由Neer征、Hawkins试验、疼痛弧试验,二者敏感性高特异性低。而Neer撞击试验特异性较高。肩袖损伤的检查包括肩袖肌力检查。Jobe试验阳性多提示冈上肌腱损伤,冈下肌腱损伤时将出现外旋肌力减弱,外旋松弛试验多为阳性。肩胛下肌是维持肩关节稳定及内旋肩关节的主要肌肉,常用的检查包括Lift-off试验、内旋松弛试验、压腹试验。肩关节过度外旋超过90°,肌内旋力量减弱也提示肩胛下肌损伤。琴键征、体前内收试验阳性、O′brien试验及肩锁关节局部压痛则提示肩锁关节病变。肱二头肌长头肌腱病变的检查包括结节间沟压痛、肱二头肌痛、Speed试验。SLAP损伤是年轻人常见的运动损伤,患者出现肩关节异响或绞锁,O′brien试验可出现阳性,主要确诊靠MRI及关节镜。恐惧试验主要用于检查肩关节不稳。     

四种查体试验对冈上肌腱撕裂诊断的应用价值

目的探讨四种不同的查体试验对冈上肌腱撕裂的诊断价值。方法对2017年10月至2018年10月80例接受肩关节镜手术的患者资料进行回顾性分析,其中男33例,女47例;年龄32～76岁,平均52.5岁;右肩49例,左肩31例;病程3个月～2年,平均1.2年。患者术前均接受以下查体试验:0°位外展抗阻试验、Jobe试验、坠臂试验和"抱抬抗阻"试验。以术中关节镜诊断结果为"金标准",对四种试验对于冈上肌腱撕裂诊断的灵敏度、特异性、阳性预测值、阴性预测值、阳性似然比、阴性似然比、准确度等进行综合性分析。结果经关节镜检查证实,80例患者中确诊为冈上肌腱撕裂36例。对于冈上肌腱撕裂者,0°位外展抗阻试验、Jobe试验、坠臂试验和"抱抬抗阻"试验的灵敏度分别为58.3%、72.2%、41.7%、86.1%,特异度分别为72.7%、63.6%、88.6%、70.5%,阳性预测值分别为63.3%、61.9%、75.0%、70.5%,阴性预测值分别为68.1%、73.7%、65.0%、86.1%,准确度分别为41.2%、52.5%、25.0%、55.0%,阳性似然比分别为2.14、1.98、3.66、2.92,阴性似然比分别为0.57、0.44、0.66、0.20。结论坠臂试验确定冈上肌腱撕裂最有效,"抱抬抗阻"试验对于发现和排除撕裂的冈上肌腱撕裂最有效,且位置固定,易于操作,诊断价值较高。     

尿外泌体检测对膀胱癌诊断性能的meta分析

目的:外泌体(Exosomes)可由泌尿系统肿瘤细胞直接释放到尿液中，因此检测尿Exosomes在泌尿系统肿瘤的非侵入性诊断和监测方面具有很大的潜力。本研究的目的是系统地评估尿外泌体在膀胱癌中的诊断价值。方法:计算机检索PubMed、Web of Science、Cochrane Library、Embase等数据库，截止到2022年4月1日。数据采用Stata 12.0和Meta-Disc 1.4软件进行统计分析。采用随机效应模型合并分析灵敏度、特异度、阳性似然比、阴性似然比和诊断优势比。通过受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线和曲线下面积(AUC)估计整体检验效能。结果:确定有10篇文章中的26项研究被纳入meta分析，共有1748例患者和1357例健康对照组。合并的灵敏度和特异度分别为0.76(95%CI:0.71～0.80)和0.83(95%CI:0.79～0.86);合并阳性似然比为4.45(95%CI:3.66～5.41),阴性似然比为0.29(95%CI:0.25～0.35),诊断优势比为15.23(95%CI:11.53～20.12)。合并的AUC为0.87(95%CI:0.8...     

包虫八项检查在骨包虫病诊断中的应用

目的 探讨包虫八项检查在骨包虫病诊断中的应用价值和骨包虫病的诊断策略.方法 对1999年10月至2008年9月因疑似骨包虫病而行包虫八项检查的36例患者进行回顾性研究.男19例,女17例;年龄10～67岁,平均35.9岁.采用金标渗滤法和酶联免疫法同时检测患者体内抗包虫囊液抗原(EsCF)、头节抗原(EgP)、囊液半纯化抗原B(EgB)、泡球蚴抗原(Em2)四个抗原的抗体水平,简称包虫八项检查.全部病例的最终诊断均经手术、病理学检查或穿刺活组织检查证实.对包虫八项检查结果进行ROC分析,确定最佳诊断界点(阈值),并计算灵敏度、特异度、Youden指数、阳性似然比、阴性似然比、阳性预报值、阴性预报值.结果 经病理学检查证实,36例患者中11例确诊为骨包虫病(胸椎包虫2例、肋骨包虫1例、腰椎包虫3例、骶骨包虫4例、髂骨包虫1例).包虫八项检查的灵敏度为90.91%,特异度为92.00%,Youden指数为0.8291,阳性似然比为11.3600,阴性似然比为0.0988,阳性预报值为83.33%,阴性预报值为95.83%.结论 血清学检查是骨包虫病鉴别诊断的重要手段.包虫八项检查诊断骨包虫病有较高的准确性.     

肩峰骨诊疗1例

<正>肩关节疼痛是临床工作中常见的疾病之一,临床比较常见的是肩峰撞击症和肩袖撕裂,严重影响患者的工作生活^[1,2]。随着关节镜技术的发展,肩关节疾病的治疗也越来越微创化,取得良好的临床效果。笔者最近收治1例肩峰骨的患者,其症状和查体与肩袖损伤和肩峰撞击症相似,临床极其容易误诊,国内文献报道较少,现就此病例做一报告并总结经验,为临床提供参考。1病例报告患者,女,65岁,因右肩疼痛、活动受限3个月余入院。专科查体：右肩不肿,三角肌未见明显萎缩,肩峰前外侧缘压痛,Neer sign (+),Hawkins sign(+),空杯试验(-),外旋抗阻试验(-),Lif toff试验(-);肩关节活动度：前屈上举约60°(主动)/150°(被动),外旋45°(主被动无明显差异),内旋约在T₆水平。辅助检查：CT示肩峰骨存在,     

肩峰下撞击综合征38例临床症状体征分析

目的 探讨判断肩峰下撞击综合征的严重程度,即肩袖是否撕裂的可靠的检查方法。方法 对 1999年 2月～ 10月间, 38例诊断为肩峰下撞击综合征的患者的临床资料进行总结。结果 对肩峰下撞击综合征的检查中,阳性率较高的有 :疼痛弧 33例 (阳性率 86.8％ ),大结节压痛 36例 (94.7％ ),前撞击征 33例 (86.8％ ),侧撞击征 36例 (94.7％ ), 60°～ 90°外展抗阻试验阳性 37例 (97.4％ ),牵拉试验阳性 35例 (92.1％）,冈上肌试验阳性 32例 (84.2％ ),封闭试验阳性 37例 (97.4％ )。 30°外展抗阻试验及夜间疼痛在肩袖撕裂与未撕裂患者间阳性率差异有显著性意义（ P 0.05)。结论 侧撞击征、 60°～ 90°外展抗阻试验、牵拉试验与封闭试验、大结节压痛、前撞击征、冈上肌试验及疼痛弧等对肩峰下撞击综合征的诊断有很高的阳性率。 30°外展抗阻试验及夜间疼痛在肩袖撕裂与未撕裂患者间阳性率差异有显著性意义 ,而力弱在肩袖撕裂与未撕裂患者间差异无显著性意义。     

抱头试验在神经根型颈椎病中的鉴别诊断价值

目的 探讨抱头试验在神经根型颈椎病中的鉴别诊断价值。方法 选取120例神经根型颈椎病患者和同期50例健康志愿者，被检查者坐位或仰卧位，一只手掌放置在头枕部，另一只手放置在其手背上，疼痛减轻为试验阳性。计算抱头试验在两组中的敏感度、特异度、阳性预测值、阴性预测值、似然比。结果 120例神经根型颈椎病患者中抱头试验阳性102例，阴性18例，阳性率为85.0%,敏感度为0.85。50例健康志愿者中抱头试验阳性2例，阴性48例，阳性率为4.0%,真阴性率为96%,特异度为0.96。抱头试验阳性率神经根型颈椎病患者明显高于健康志愿者(P<0.01)。120例神经根型颈椎病患者和50例健康志愿者的阳性预测值为0.98,阴性预测值为0.73,阳性似然比为21.25,阴性似然比为0.16。检查者间κ值为0.79,检查者内κ值为0.78,表明抱头试验的检查者间和检查者内均有较高的可信度。结论 抱头试验诊断神经根型颈椎病简单、有效、快速、可靠性高，患者依从性高。     

超声检查对膀胱癌的诊断价值Meta分析

目的 系统评价超声检查对膀胱癌的诊断价值.方法 对PubMed、Cochrone图书馆、中国知网数据库、维普中文科技期刊数据库和万方数据库进行检索,检索时限从建库到2016年5月21日.根据预先制定的纳入和排除标准对文章进行筛选并提取相关数据资料.采用QUADAS工具对纳入文章的质量进行评价,采用Meta-Disc 1.4软件对其敏感性、特异度、阳性似然比、阴性似然比、诊断比值比进行异质性检验和合并分析,并绘制受试者工作特征曲线, 计算曲线下面积(AUC).结果 共有14项研究,2 498例研究对象纳入Meta分析中.各研究间存在异质性,采用随机效应模型对结果进行分析.超声检查诊断膀胱癌的敏感性、特异度、阳性似然比、阴性似然比、诊断比值比分别为0.77 [95% CI(0.73, 0.80)]、0.96 [95% CI(0.95, 0.97)]、9.81 [95% CI(4.31, 22.33)]、0.27 [95% CI(0.21, 0.36)]、52.24 [95% CI(24.59, 110.96)].AUC为0.93,Q*指数为0.86.纳入文献的阈值效应不是产生异质性的主要来源.结论 超声检查诊断膀胱癌具有较低的敏感性和较高的特异度,可以作为膀胱癌的辅助检查手段.     

Multiloc髓内钉内固定治疗Neer二部分肱骨外科颈骨折

目的探讨Multiloc髓内钉内固定治疗Neer二部分肱骨外科颈骨折的临床疗效。方法回顾性分析自2014-12—2016-04采用Multiloc髓内钉内固定治疗的11例Neer二部分肱骨外科颈骨折。结果 11例均获得随访,随访时间平均17.5(14~30)个月。末次随访时骨折获得骨性愈合,颈干角平均135°,无明显内翻畸形;肩关节上举平均136°,外旋平均29°,10例内旋均达到L5及其以上水平。末次随访时肩关节功能Constant-Murley评分:优7例,良2例,可1例,差1例。未出现近端螺钉松动,1例近端锁钉突出近端关节软骨;2例术后出现肩部症状,1例Neer征及Hawkin征阳性,1例痛弧征阳性。结论 Multiloc髓内钉内固定治疗Neer二部分肱骨外科颈骨折可取得满意的疗效,其"钉中钉"及肱骨距螺钉设计有效增强了内固定物对骨折近端的把持力,提高了肱骨近端的稳定性,降低了内翻畸形的发生率。     

Diagnostic accuracy of clinical tests for the different degrees of subacromial impingement syndrome

BACKGROUND: Several tests for making the diagnosis of rotator cuff disease have been described, but their utility for diagnosing bursitis alone, partial-thickness rotator cuff tears, and full-thickness rotator cuff tears has not been studied. The hypothesis of this study was that the degree of severity of rotator cuff disease affects the diagnostic values of the commonly used clinical tests. METHODS: Eight physical examination tests (the Neer impingement sign, Hawkins-Kennedy impingement sign, painful arc sign, supraspinatus muscle strength test, Speed test, cross-body adduction test, drop-arm sign, and infraspinatus muscle strength test) were evaluated to determine their diagnostic values, including likelihood ratios and post-test probabilities, for three degrees of severity in rotator cuff disease: bursitis, partial-thickness rotator cuff tears, and full-thickness rotator cuff tears. A forward stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to determine the best combination of clinical tests for predicting the various grades of impingement syndrome. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and overall accuracy of the eight tests varied considerably. The combination of the Hawkins-Kennedy impingement sign, the painful arc sign, and the infraspinatus muscle test yielded the best post-test probability (95%) for any degree of impingement syndrome. The combination of the painful arc sign, drop-arm sign, and infraspinatus muscle test produced the best post-test probability (91%) for full-thickness rotator cuff tears. CONCLUSIONS: The severity of the impingement syndrome affects the diagnostic values of the commonly used clinical tests. The variable accuracy of these tests should be taken into consideration when evaluating patients with symptoms of rotator cuff disease.     

The diagnostic value of a modified Neer test in identifying subacromial impingement syndrome

Background

Subacromial impingement syndrome (SAIS) is characterized by pain experienced through an arc of elevation as the shoulder abducts and diagnosed commonly by Neer test (NT). However, the diagnostic accuracy of NT for SAIS is still limited. Here, a modified Neer test (MNT) was introduced to improve the accuracy of the clinical examination in diagnosing SAIS and differentiating it from frozen shoulder. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic values of MNT in diagnosing SAIS and differentiating it from frozen shoulder.

Methods

Between January 2015 and June 2015, a prospective study assessed 85 shoulders among 82 patients with shoulder joint disease; 42 patients underwent arthroscopic surgery, and all 82 patients received X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or MRI contrast examinations. The diagnostic criteria are based on arthroscopy and MRI scanning.

Results

Using clinical epidemiology and diagnostic tests, we calculated the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and degree of accuracy of MNT in diagnosing SAIS. The diagnostic accuracy rate of MNT in identifying shoulder SAIS was 90.59%, and the specificity was 95.56%.

Conclusions

In the diagnosis of SAIS, MNT is a reliable and highly accurate maneuver and seems useful to distinguish this syndrome from frozen shoulder.

     

Das Impingementsyndrom der Schulter

Objective

The aim of this study was the evaluation of the diagnostic accuracy of the commonly used clinical orthopedic tests to detect shoulder impingement syndrome.

Methods

We carried out a systematic analysis of the literature from 1978 to 2008 using PubMed database. The quality of the data in each relevant article was determined by examining the study’s internal and external validity through Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy (QUADAS). We included 11 articles from the literature research.

Results

The selected literature showed inhomogeneous data, with limited quality in some. There are many different clinical orthopedic tests being used to identify different pathologies of the shoulder or to enable a differential diagnosis of impingement subgroups. The selected literature showed statistical inhomogeneity. The studies presented different inclusion criteria for the patients, which were often not clearly defined. Even the criteria for detecting impingement syndrome were inconsistent. The analysis showed discrepancies between sensitivity and specificity. There are only reliable results available for the frequently used Neer and Hawkins-Kennedy test. The analysis pointed out that no test has adequate screening accuracy in detecting impingement syndrome. A combination of different orthopedic tests can improve the clinical diagnosis.

Conclusion

A combination of orthopedic tests can lead to a correct diagnosis. Additional data such as medical history and the use of imaging techniques (sonography, X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging) are advisable. Further prospective studies with a consistent format are necessary to evaluate the impingement tests.     

Contribution of clinical tests to the diagnosis of rotator cuff disease: A systematic literature review

ObjectiveTo evaluate the diagnostic performance of clinical tests for degenerative rotator cuff disease, based on a systematic literature review.MethodsWe searched Medline, Embase, and Pascal Biomed until the first half of 2006 inclusive for articles that reported at least the sensitivity and specificity of clinical tests for rotator cuff disease. Predictive values and accuracy were recorded where available. The results were discussed and validated.ResultsWe selected nine studies, of which three investigated tests for subacromial impingement syndrome and seven tests for rotator cuff tendinopathy. The Neer and Hawkins tests had good sensitivity but low specificity for subacromial impingement syndrome. For diagnosing tears of the supraspinatus or infraspinatus, the Jobe sign and the full can test showed similar performance characteristics to the Patte test and resisted external rotation with the elbow at the side flexed at 90°. For diagnosing tendinopathies with or without tears, active unresisted external rotation for the infraspinatus and the lift off test for the subscapularis were specific but lacked sensitivity. In one study, limitation of the range of active unresisted internal rotation was sensitive and specific for subscapularis tendon disease. The palm up test performed poorly for diagnosing long head of biceps disease.ConclusionsData on the diagnostic performance of clinical tests for rotator cuff tendon disease are fragmentary. However objective data exist to support the usefulness of some of these tests. Further studies are needed.     

Comparison of acromiohumeral distance and glenohumeral internal rotation angle between the empty can test and modified empty can test: “thumb pointing down” versus “elbow pointing laterally”

BackgroundDuring the empty can test, the direction of the thumb (downward) has been widely used as an instruction for producing glenohumeral internal rotation. However, the combination of forearm pronation and thumb motion as a compensatory movement could contribute to the lack of glenohumeral internal rotation during the empty can test. This study aimed to compare the glenohumeral internal rotation angle between the conventional empty can (with thumb direction) and modified empty can tests (with elbow direction), as well as the acromiohumeral distance between the full can, conventional empty can, and modified empty can tests.MethodsIn this laboratory study, we measured the glenohumeral internal rotation angle using a motion sensor and the acromiohumeral distance using ultrasonography during the following tests: full can test (thumb pointing up), conventional empty can test (thumb pointing down), and modified empty can test (elbow pointing laterally) in 20 healthy subjects.ResultsCompared with the conventional empty can test, the glenohumeral internal rotation angle was significantly greater during the modified empty can test (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the acromiohumeral distance measured in the modified empty can test was significantly less than that in the full can test (p < 0.001) and conventional empty can test (p < 0.001). However, there was no difference in the acromiohumeral distance between the full can test and the conventional empty can test (p > 0.017).ConclusionsDuring the empty can test, the instructions should be given to patients based on the elbow direction (elbow pointing laterally). The modified empty can test can produce full glenohumeral internal rotation, compared with instructions based on the thumb direction (thumb pointing down). Consequently, the modified empty can test can produce a more decreased subacromial space.     

An assessment of the inter examiner reliability of clinical tests for subacromial impingement and rotator cuff integrity

Over 30 separate clinical signs for the shoulder have been described, most with little evidence to support their accuracy and reliability. The aim of our study was to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of some of the commonly used tests for rotator cuff disease. Two clinicians, a consultant with an established shoulder practice and a registrar with an interest in shoulder surgery, examined 63 patients with history suggestive of rotator cuff disease. A set of pre-determined clinical tests for impingement syndrome and rotator cuff tear were standardised and agreed upon before the study was commenced. The examination included eliciting a painful arc, the drop arm test, the Neer’s and the Hawkin’s sign for impingement syndrome. Integrity of the individual components of the rotator cuff was assessed by the strength of abduction initiation and at 90° abduction for supraspinatus tear (Jobe’s test), Speed’s and Yergason’s test for biceps pathology, strength of shoulder external rotation for infraspinatus tears and the Gerber lift-off test for subscapularis tears. Accuracy assessments were determined by comparing clinical findings against findings at arthroscopy in 50 of the 63 patients. The two observers did not differ significantly in their assessments. Un-weighted kappa values defining agreement between the two observers and the positive predictive values were evaluated. Our findings indicate that clinical signs can be relied upon for diagnosis of impingement but not for rotator cuff deficiency. Compared with other previously published studies, our study demonstrates that the inter observer agreement is better when the assessors have a special interest and understanding of shoulder disorders.     

Evaluation of the effectiveness of dexamethasone iontophoresis in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome

BackgroundSubacromial impingement syndrome is the most common shoulder disease in individuals. There is no study evaluating the effectiveness of steroid iontophoresis in subacromial impingement syndrome. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of dexamethasone iontophoresis as treatment for impingement syndrome with respect to pain and function.MethodsForty-six patients with subacromial impingement syndrome were recruited to the study and divided randomly into two groups (21 patients in iontophoresis group and 25 patients in control group). Demographic, clinical features and MRI findings of patients were recorded. Detailed physical examination of all patients were performed and Numerical rating scale (NRS) during rest and exercise, The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scores were recorded at baseline, week 2 and week 6. Both group received physiotherapy program for ten days. Additionally the patients in iontophoresis group recieved dexamethasone iontophoresis (1 mg dexamethasone per 1 g administered under the active electrode) with an intensity of 0.1–0.2 mA/cm2 galvanic current for ten days.ResultsNo significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of gender, job status, MRI findings, painful shoulder and pain duration. Baseline range of motion, Neer, Hawkins, Yocum and painful arc tests, numerical rating scale (NRS) and DASH scores were similar between groups. A significant improvement was found in terms of the NRS (resting and exercise) and DASH scores at week 2 and week 6 in both group (p < 0.001). A significant difference was found in terms of improvement NRS (resting) and DASH scores between baseline and week 6 in iontophoresis group (p = 0.007, p = 0.011 respectively).ConclusionsAdding dexamethasone iontophoresis to physiotherapy for patients with subacromial impingement syndrome seems to provide a better clinical and functional improvement.     

Shoulder rotator strength in patients with stage I-II subacromial impingement: relationship to pain, disability, and quality of life

The purpose of this study was two-fold: to determine the shoulder rotator strength in patients with stage I and II subacromial impingement syndrome and to explore its relationship with pain, disability, and quality of life. Thirteen patients with at least 2 positive tests (Neer, Hawkins, painful arc) on the dominant side and 25 unaffected control subjects were included. All individuals had an intact rotator cuff bilaterally, as evaluated by sonography. Isokinetic testing of the shoulder internal and external rotators was performed using Biodex System 3 during concentric/concentric shoulder rotations at a velocity of 60 degrees /s in the scapular plane. The Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, Simple Shoulder Test, and Nottingham Health Profile were self-reported by all subjects. Peak torque values of patients were found to be indifferent from those of controls'. External and internal rotation strength were negatively correlated with pain (r = .63, r = .66, P < .05). In spite of shoulder pain and disability, general health in stage I and II impingement patients did not show any deterioration.     

冈上肌腱撕裂查体试验的诊断价值研究

目的:探讨6种常用查体试验对冈上肌腱撕裂的诊断价值,并评估这6种临床查体是否可以区分冈上肌腱部分或全层撕裂.方法:选择2017年6月至2020年9月因肩关节疾病行肩关节镜下手术治疗的91例患者,其中男49例,女42例;年龄31～68(50.8±11.0)岁;右侧70例,左侧21例.术前采用Hug-up试验、Jobe试验...     

Clinical and urodynamic experience with intravesical hyaluronic acid in painful bladder syndrome associated with interstitial cystitis

Introductionfew studies have been carried out on therapeutic options in patients with painful bladder syndrome associated with interstitial cystitis. The aim is to verify the safety and effectiveness of treatment with sodium hyaluronate through intravesical instillation in patients with painful bladder syndrome.Materials and methodsa series of 18 female patients is presented, with a mean age of 51 years and prior diagnosis of painful bladder syndrome, who were treated by means of the weekly infusion of an intravesical solution of 40 mg of sodium hyaluronate in sterile solution, over a period of eight weeks. The patients were examined clinically and urodynamically prior to their inclusion in the study and eight months after the instillations had concluded.Resultsthere was a statistically significant improvement in the urodynamic parameters and in the symptoms measured quantitatively by means of the questionnaire “Pelvic Pain and Urgency/Frequency” between the baseline situation and after the vesical instillation of sodium hyaluronate in patients with painful bladder syndrome. There was no toxicity arising from the treatment, given that no adverse effects were recorded in relation to it.Conclusionthe clinical use of intravesical hyaluronic acid in patients with painful bladder syndrome possibly associated with interstitial cystitis has been demonstrated. The clinical improvement is also associated both with increased bladder capacity and improved bladder sensitivity. Tolerance was excellent. Clinical tests that more profoundly evaluate the therapeutic potential of this drug in this type of patients are required.