400 Section - Cryoneurolysis as an intervention for hemiplegic shoulder pain patients in the subacute phase of stroke.

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM PT

Presenting Author/Autor expositor(s)

JF

John W. Fritterer, n/a

Medical Student
Island Health
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
SH

Samuel Herzog, n/a

Research Assistant
Island Health
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Co-Author/Coautor(s)

Mahdis Hashemi, MD

Researcher
Vancouver Island Health Authority
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
SA

Sophie Alexander, Bachelor of Arts in Social and Personality Psychology

Research Assistant
Island Health
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Corresponding Author/Autor a quien dirigir la corr(s)

Paul J. Winston, MD

Physiatrist and Researcher
Vancouver Island Health Authority
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Objectives:

To investigate the effect of cryoneurolysis, a minimally invasive procedure that uses controlled freezing to disrupt nerve function, to treat hemiplegic shoulder pain (HSP).

Design: The design of this study was a prospective observational cohort study. 23 who were in the first 16 weeks after upper motor neuron injury (UMN) and were diagnosed with HSP, were followed up to 4 months after cryoneurolysis. Patient's maximum active range of motion (AROM) and maximum passive range of motion (V1) were assessed using a goniometer. Pain and functional abilities were assessed using two questionnaires: (1) Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), and (2) The Spasticity-Associated Arm Pain Scale (SAAPS). These measurements were taken at baseline, 1 week after treatment, and 4 months after treatment.

Results:

Findings indicated that cryoneurolysis is effective in reducing pain and increasing functional abilities for shoulder patients. Participants experienced a 40% reduction in shoulder pain from baseline to week 1, maintained on 4-month follow-up. Passive shoulder range of motion (V1) also improved across shoulder flexion, abduction, and external rotation. On average, patients maintained an average gain of 22 degrees of shoulder flexion (V1) on a 4-month follow-up.

Conclusions:

verall, these findings indicate that cryoneurolysis is a promising new procedure for treating pain and disability in hemiplegic shoulder pain patients, allowing patients in the acute phase, post UMN injury, to engage in faster rehabilitation. Larger studies with a double-blind and sham-controlled methodology should be conducted to confirm these findings.