The effectiveness of ultrasonography-guided suprascapular nerve block for perishoulder pain

This study analyzed the effectiveness of suprascapular nerve block under ultrasonographic guidance in patients with perishoulder pain. Patients with perishoulder pain were enrolled in the study and were randomly divided into 2 groups. In the first group of 25 patients (12 men and 13 women), nerve block was applied under ultrasonographic guidance. Mean patient age in this group was 55.1 years. In the control group, 25 patients (11 men and 14 women) underwent nerve block without ultrasonographic guidance; mean patient age was 51.6 years. Degree of pain was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) and shoulder function was evaluated using the Constant shoulder score (CSS) before the nerve block, immediately following the procedure, and 1 month after the procedure. There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups in VAS score and CSS before the procedure (P>.05). Immediately after the procedure, both the study and control groups revealed significantly improved VAS and CSS patterns (P<.05). However, the study group showed better VAS and CSS patterns than the control group at 1-month follow-up (P<.05). No complications occurred in the study group. In the control group, there were 2 cases of arterial punctures and 3 cases of direct nerve injury with neurological deficit for 2 months. Ultrasonography-guided suprascapular nerve injection is a safe, accurate, and useful procedure compared to the blind technique.