Suprascapular nerve block for pain relief in adhesive capsulitis: comparison of 2 different techniques.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of 2 suprascapular nerve block techniques in adhesive capsulitis.

DESIGN

A single-blinded, randomized, comparative clinical trial.

SETTING

Physical medicine and rehabilitation department of a university hospital in Turkey.

PARTICIPANTS

Forty-one patients with adhesive capsulitis.

INTERVENTIONS: Suprascapular nerve block with patients randomly divided into 2 groups: group A, needle tip guided by superficial bony landmarks, or group B, near-nerve electromyographically guided technique.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Visual analog scale (VAS) score for pain severity and range of motion (ROM) were assessed before the injection and at 10 and 60 minutes after it.

RESULTS

Active and passive ROM changes and VAS score changes from baseline were statistically significant for each group (P<.05). Passive ROM changes within time after the injection were statistically significant between the 2 groups in all planes except glenohumeral abduction. Achieved VAS score changes in the groups within time were significantly different from each other (P=.001). The VAS score difference after the suprascapular nerve block was more prominent in the near-nerve electromyography group.

CONCLUSION

The near-nerve electromyography technique for suprascapular nerve block was more successful in providing and maintaining pain relief for up to 60 minutes.