Analgesic Effect of Infraspinatus-Teres Minor Interfascial Block in Scapular Fracture Surgery: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Scapular fractures (SFs) are severe injuries that cause swelling, pain, and restricted movement in the posterior shoulder area. Surgical intervention is recommended for patients with significant displacement or multiple fractures. While most SF surgeries utilize general anesthesia, the role of nerve blocks is often overlooked. The infraspinatus-teres minor (ITM) interfascial block, a combined suprascapular and axillary nerve block technique, has been shown to be safe and effective. It is theorized that the ITM interfascial block may specifically target analgesia at the subacromial bursa, enhancing perioperative pain management for SF. In two scapular fracture patients in which ITM interfascial block was administered preoperatively, we observed reduced intraoperative fentanyl usage and improved hemodynamics during skin incision, contributing to enhanced stability. Pain scores within 24 hours postsurgery were minimal, indicating effective pain management with no complications related to the block, leading to high patient satisfaction. In conclusions, The ITM interfascial block demonstrates significant analgesic effectiveness in scapular surgery and holds promise for broader application.