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Interscalene Block versus Posterior Suprascapular Block for Postoperative Analgesia on Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery:
Sinem Ozler1, Leyla Kilinc2, Gamze Dilara Demir2
1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Division of Pain Medicine, Marmara University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Türkiye.
Sisli Etfal Hastanesi Tip Bulteni
|April 16, 2026
Summary
Comparing interscalene block (ISB) and posterior suprascapular nerve block (SSB) for shoulder surgery pain, this study found SSB offers comparable analgesia with fewer complications. While ISB provided better early pain relief, SSB showed advantages later and reduced side effects.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Pain Management
- Orthopedic Surgery
Background:
- Postoperative pain after arthroscopic shoulder surgery significantly impacts patient recovery and satisfaction.
- Interscalene block (ISB) and suprascapular nerve block (SSB) are common regional anesthesia techniques for shoulder procedures.
- Comparing the efficacy and safety of different nerve block techniques is crucial for optimizing pain management strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effectiveness of interscalene block (ISB) versus posterior suprascapular nerve block (SSB) for postoperative analgesia within 24 hours after unilateral arthroscopic shoulder surgery.
- To evaluate differences in pain scores, opioid consumption, analgesia duration, patient satisfaction, and complication rates between the two block techniques.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, randomized controlled study involving 98 adult patients undergoing elective arthroscopic shoulder surgery.
- Patients were randomized to receive either an interscalene block (Group ISB, n=48) or a posterior suprascapular nerve block (Group SSB, n=50), both with 0.5% bupivacaine.
- Postoperative outcomes including Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain scores, opioid consumption, and complications were assessed at multiple time points up to 24 hours.
Main Results:
- While ISB demonstrated lower VAS scores in the early postoperative period (0-6 hours), SSB showed significantly lower VAS scores at 24 hours.
- No significant differences were observed in the overall duration of analgesia, total opioid consumption, or patient satisfaction between the groups.
- The complication rate was significantly higher in the ISB group compared to the SSB group.
Conclusions:
- Ultrasound-guided posterior SSB is an effective alternative to ISB for postoperative pain management after arthroscopic shoulder surgery, particularly notable for its lower complication rate.
- While ISB may offer superior early analgesia, SSB provides comparable pain relief over 24 hours with a better safety profile.
- Posterior SSB represents a valuable technique for reducing side effects while managing postoperative pain in shoulder arthroscopy.
