Combined subacromial-subdeltoid bursitis and supraspinatus tear following a COVID-19 vaccination: A case report

After a vaccine administration, many people have localized symptoms such as pain, redness, warmth, swelling, itching and/or bruising, which usually improve in a few days. If the clinical symptoms do not improve in this period, a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) should be ruled out. The most common cause of a SIRVA is an improper injection technique. Herein, we reported the first case of combined subacromial-subdeltoid bursitis and supraspinatus tendon tear which was apparently caused by an improper COVID-19 vaccination technique. A 51-year-old Thai female began to experience severe right shoulder pain about 3 hours after receiving a COVID-19 vaccination. Ultrasonography showed combined subacromial-subdeltoid bursitis and supraspinatus tendon tear. Her clinical symptoms gradually improved after treatment with an oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Our investigation found that an improper injection technique had been used, namely inserting the needle too deeply, and using an incorrect landmark. We report a case of combined subacromial-subdeltoid bursitis and supraspinatus tendon tear following a second dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. This is a rare condition which is usually related to an incorrect injection technique. To reduce the chance of SIRVA, the healthcare worker giving the injection should pay careful attention to find the appropriate landmark, and ensuring the correct needle length and direction of the injection. •If the clinical symptoms after vaccination do not improve in 2-3 days, a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration should be considered.•There is a risk of SIRVA if the anatomical landmark of the needle was too high.•Before diagnosis SIRVA, the serious condition such as septic arthritis of shoulder should be ruled out.