Received Jun 26, 2026
| Type | Name | Manufacturer | Dose | Lot | Route / Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLUX | INFLUENZA (SEASONAL) (NO BRAND NAME) | UNKNOWN MANUFACTURER | UNK | No batch number | IM / LA |
Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration; Chronic left shoulder pain that started after an influenza vaccine; This literature report (initial receipt date: 16-Jun-2026) concerns an adult female patient (Case 5) who received influenza vaccine. This retrospective case series included patients seen between -Apr-2022 and -Dec-2024 at a private sports medicine clinic. Five consecutive patients met all the inclusion criteria. All had received deltoid intramuscular vaccination within 48 hours of symptom onset. Ultrasound revealed hyperechoic punctated foci within the supraspinatus and/or infraspinatus tendons. All five patients responded to an anesthetic injection into the identified area, confirming the origin of their symptoms, and were successfully treated with a tenotomy, vacuum aspiration, and debridement. The female patient presented to the clinic for evaluation of chronic left shoulder pain that started after an influenza vaccine [Influenza vaccine: trade name, manufacturer and lot number not reported - to be requested upon follow up, route of administration: Intramuscular, anatomical location: left deltoid]. She described a sharp, shooting, and throbbing pain that started immediately after she received the vaccination. The pain worsened when moving her arm overhead and across her body. She localized this pain to her left posterior and lateral shoulder, with radiation down to her elbow. She initially saw an outside orthopedic provider who recommended physical therapy (PT) and performed a landmark-guided subacromial corticosteroid (CS) injection 3 months after the vaccination, which provided her with two months of symptom relief. The outside radiographs of her left shoulder were unremarkable. She tried conservative measures, including over-the-counter NSAIDs and a physician-directed home exercise program that provided mild improvement. On presentation to the clinic 5 months after the vaccination, a diagnostic ultrasound showed multiple punctate hyperechoic foci within the supraspinatus in a disorganized pattern. A diagnostic injection into the abnormal area within the supraspinatus tendon resolved her pain. The patient was treated with a tenotomy, aspiration, and debridement targeting the punctate hyperechoic foci. She reported no pain after the procedure at rest or with activity but was then lost to follow-up after the 2-month postoperative visit.; Reporter's Comments: Causality: Due to the spontaneous nature of the case, events are considered related for reporting purposes. Considering close temporal relationship for events (pain started immediately after vaccination).
Comments: None