This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Suprascapular nerve block yielded better early results vs subacromial injection for rotator cuff tears
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Patients with symptomatic rotator cuff tears experienced better pain relief and functional results with suprascapular nerve block compared with subacromial injection, according to recently published results.
Joseph A. Coory, MBBS, BSc(Anat), and colleagues randomly assigned patients (43 shoulders) with symptomatic partial- and full-thickness rotator cuff tears to undergo outpatient treatment with either suprascapular nerve block (n=21) or subacromial injection (n=22). Shoulder function measured by the modified Constant-Murley score was considered the primary outcome measure, while pain score measured by VAS scale at 2, 6 and 12 weeks after injection was the secondary outcome.
Results showed the two groups had no differences in Constant-Murley scores at 2- and 6-week follow-ups; however, the suprascapular nerve block group had a significantly greater mean change in Constant-Murley score from baseline at 6-week follow-up. Researchers noted the suprascapular nerve block group had a significantly higher Constant-Murley score and greater improvement from the baseline Constant-Murley score at 12-week follow-up. The suprascapular nerve block group also had significantly better VAS score vs. the subacromial injection group at 12 weeks, according to results.
“Suprascapular nerve block is superior to subacromial injection for restoring function and providing pain relief in patients with rotator cuff tears,” Coory told Healio.com/Orthopedics. “In our practice, it has become a first-line nonoperative intervention, particularly in patients with large rotator cuff tears.” – by Casey Tingle
Disclosures: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts