An interventional study of Lidocaine and Dexamethasone for PENG Block in Chronic Shoulder Pain, Pericapsular Nerve Group Block (PENG Block) and Frozen Shoulder, sponsored by Ankara City Hospital Bilkent. Recruiting at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-09.
Sponsored by Ankara City Hospital Bilkent · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The purpose of this prospective, observational study is to evaluate the clinical and functional outcomes of ultrasound-guided Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) block in patients suffering from chronic shoulder pain. Chronic shoulder pain is a highly prevalent musculoskeletal problem that significantly restricts daily activities and diminishes the patient's quality of life. While conservative treatments and various interventional injections are widely used, long-term efficacy can be limited, and systemic side effects may occur. The shoulder PENG block is a novel regional analgesia technique that specifically targets the articular (sensory) branches of the nerves innervating the shoulder joint capsule without affecting the motor branches. In this single-center study, a total of 45 eligible adult patients with chronic shoulder pain who did not respond to conservative medical treatments will receive an ultrasound-guided PENG block as part of their routine clinical care. The procedure will be performed under sterile conditions using a combination of local anesthetic (lidocaine) and dexamethasone. Patient pain levels will be assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), shoulder disability and functional status will be measured using the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), and overall patient satisfaction will be evaluated using the Global Perceived Effect (GPE) score. All parameters will be documented at baseline (before the procedure) and at follow-up visits on the 1st week, 4th week (1 month), and 3rd month post-procedure. The investigators aim to determine the efficacy, duration of effect, and safety profile of this intervention.
Study Design and Setting:
This is a prospective, observational, and single-center clinical study designed to evaluate the clinical and functional outcomes of ultrasound-guided Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) block in patients with chronic shoulder pain. The study will be conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, and approval from the local clinical research ethics committee will be obtained prior to patient enrollment.
Patient Selection:
Adult patients (aged over 18 years) presenting with chronic shoulder pain lasting longer than 3 months, who have an initial Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) score greater than 4 and have not responded to conservative or medical treatments, will be screened for eligibility. Written informed consent will be obtained from all participating individuals. Patients with coagulation disorders, psychomotor disorders, active infections at the injection site, a history of shoulder surgery within the past 6 months, or known allergies to local anesthetics or corticosteroids will be excluded.
Intervention Protocol:
The ultrasound-guided shoulder PENG block is performed as a routine treatment modality in our clinic for patients non-responsive to conservative therapies. The procedure is conducted under sterile conditions with the patient in the supine position. The affected shoulder is placed in abduction and external rotation. An ultrasound transducer is positioned parallel to the clavicle to visualize the anatomical structures. A block needle is advanced under the subscapularis muscle under direct ultrasound guidance. Following the confirmation of correct needle positioning, a mixture of 5 mL of 2% lidocaine and 8 mg of dexamethasone is injected into the periarticular nerve endpoints. Outcome Measurements and Data Collection:
Demographic and clinical data will be collected by an expert algologist using the hospital information management system and recorded into dedicated study forms. Clinical parameters will be evaluated at four distinct time points: baseline (pre-procedure), 1st week, 4th week (1 month), and 3rd month post-procedure. Pain severity will be measured using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). Shoulder joint function and disability levels will be assessed using the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI). Overall patient satisfaction and perceived improvement will be tracked via the Global Perceived Effect (GPE) scale.
Friedman test, depending on the distribution properties. Bonferroni correction will be applied for post-hoc pairwise comparisons, and a p-value less than 0.05 will be considered statistically significant.
383 studies on the registry are indexed under Bursitis; 111 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 45 is close to the median of 44 across 346 interventional studies indexed under Bursitis.
Browse Bursitis studies →Ankara City Hospital Bilkent is the lead sponsor of 443 studies on the registry; 111 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
Hypersensitivity
An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Corticosteroids (steroids)
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Patients with chronic shoulder pain who receive an ultrasound-guided Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) block. Under sterile conditions and in the supine position, with the shoulder in abduction and external rotation, an ultrasound transducer is placed parallel to the clavicle. A block needle is advanced under the subscapularis muscle. Following confirmation of the needle position, a mixture of 5 mL of 2% lidocaine and 8 mg of dexamethasone is administered to the periarticular nerve endpoints.
Drug: Lidocaine and Dexamethasone for PENG Block
An ultrasound-guided Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) block is administered to target the articular (sensory) branches of the nerves innervating the shoulder joint capsule (suprascapular, axillary, and lateral pectoral nerves) without affecting the motor branches. The intervention is performed under strict sterile conditions with the patient in the supine position. The affected shoulder is placed in abduction and external rotation. A high-frequency ultrasound transducer is positioned parallel to the clavicle to visualize the anatomical structures. Under direct ultrasound guidance, a block needle is advanced beneath the subscapularis muscle. After confirming the correct needle positioning and ensuring no intravascular placement, a therapeutic mixture of 5 mL of 2% lidocaine and 8 mg of dexamethasone is injected into the periarticular nerve endpoints.
Change from Baseline Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) Score
The Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) is a segmented numeric version of the visual analog scale in which a respondent selects a whole number (0-10 integers) that best reflects the intensity of their pain. The score ranges from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates "no pain" and 10 indicates "the worst possible pain." Higher scores represent more severe pain intensity. Pain levels will be evaluated and compared across different time points
Time frame: Baseline (pre-procedure), post-procedure 30th minute, 1st week, 4th week (1st month), and 12th week (3rd month)
Change from Baseline Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) Score
The Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) is a self-administered questionnaire used to measure shoulder pain and disability. It consists of 13 items divided into two subscales: pain (5 items) and disability (8 items). Each item is scored on a visual analog scale ranging from 0 (no pain/no difficulty) to 10 (worst pain imaginable/so difficult it requires help). The total SPADI score is calculated by averaging the subscale scores and ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 indicates the best possible shoulder function (no pain and disability) and 100 indicates the worst possible shoulder function (severe pain and disability). Higher scores represent greater pain and disability
Time frame: Baseline (pre-procedure), 1st week, 4th week (1st month), and 12th week (3rd month)
Global Perceived Effect (GPE) Score
The Global Perceived Effect (GPE) scale is a patient-reported outcome measure used to assess the patient's subjective perception of recovery or improvement since the beginning of the treatment. It is scored on a Likert-type scale (typically ranging from 1 to 7 or -5 to +5, with specific anchor points). For this study, a standard 7-point Likert scale will be used, where 1 indicates "extremely worsened", 4 indicates "no change", and 7 indicates "extremely improved". Higher scores represent a higher level of patient satisfaction and perceived clinical improvement.
Time frame: Post-procedure 1st week, 4th week (1st month), and 12th week (3rd month).
Plan to share: No
Started Jun 2026 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Jul 2027, 13 months after the start.
Of 217 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Bursitis, half reached primary completion within 10 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 5 and three quarters within 17. This study's planned 13 months is above that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 217 studies reached it within 10 months; a quarter within 5 and three quarters within 17.
Since we started tracking on Sep 25, 2026, the dates moved once, on Nov 9, 2026: primary completion Oct 2026 → Jul 2027 and completion Oct 2026 → Jul 2027.
Earlier changes are on the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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