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Embolization Treatment of Chronic Refractory Shoulder Tendinopathy
Efficacy of Lipiodol Embolization for Chronic Tendinopathy of the Rotator Cuff
Who can join
Ages 21 to 80 · All sexes
Full eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Male, female, transgender female, transgender male, non-binary 2. Moderate to severe shoulder pain (VAS \> 40) 3. Pain refractory to at least 6 months of physician-directed conservative therapy (analgesics or injections or PT), including a minimum of 6 weeks of PT 4. Willing, able, and mentally competent to provide informed consent and to tolerate angiography and physical therapy Exclusion Criteria: 1. History of peripheral arterial disease or peripheral artery disease symptoms including claudication, diminished or absent upper/lower extremity pulses, or known upper extremity arterial atherosclerosis or occlusion that would limit selective angiography 2. Known history of anaphylaxis to iodinated contrast agents or gadolinium based contrast 3. Acute kidney injury 4. Allergy to poppy seeds or lipiodol 5. Renal dysfunction as defined by serum creatinine \>1.6 dl/mg or eGFR \<60 obtained within 30 days of procedure. 6. Uncorrectable coagulopathy (platelet count \< 50,000, international normalized ratio \>1.8 within 30 days of procedure 7. Active systemic or local upper extremity infection 8. Patient pregnant, intending to become pregnant during the study. 9. Prior shoulder replacement surgery 10. Prior rotator cuff repair surgery 11. Previous history of complete full-thickness tear of the rotator cuff 12. Presence of non-MRI compatible devices (e.g., non-compatible cardiac pacemaker).
About the study
This is a randomized controlled trial in which patients with moderate to severe shoulder pain (Visual Analog Scale (VAS) \> 40), in the setting of rotator cuff tendinopathy refractory to conservative treatment, will be enrolled.
The primary aim of the study is to estimate the effect of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) with physical therapy (PT) vs PT alone on the change in shoulder pain at 12-month follow up. Scientific objectives also include an assessment of safety of the intervention, assessment of changes in Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Upper Extremity score, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) scores, MRI Tendinopathy Score between the TAE + PT and PT groups.
What is being tested
- Embolization (device)
- Physical Therapy (other)
Sponsor: Brigham and Women's Hospital · Participants: 41 · Started: Jan 16, 2025
Contact the study team
- Yan Epelboym, MD, MPH · Phone: 6177327257
Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT06095050
Locations in the U.S.
| Massachusetts | Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston |
Conditions
From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.