Ultrasound-guided subacromial-subdeltoid bursa corticosteroid injections: a study of short- and long-term outcomes.

•Ultrasound-guided subacromial-subdeltoid bursa corticosteroid injection offers a significant improvement in pain and disability in 64% of patients in the short-term (after 6 weeks). Fewer patients (27%) gain long-term improvement.•If a rotator cuff tear is present there is very unlikely to be long-term benefit, however, a small proportion (31%) will gain short-term relief.•If there is tendon or bursal pathology without a tear there is no significant difference in outcome according to the underlying diagnosis.