Comparative efficacy of ultrasound-guided combined suprascapular and axillary nerve block with suprascapular nerve block alone in patients with frozen shoulder: A prospective, double-blinded randomized, single-centre trial

Abstract

BackgroundFrozen shoulder is a troublesome disease of the shoulder joint. It leads to marked disability because of pain with restriction of active and passive movement of the joint. We aimed to determine and compare the efficacy of combined suprascapular and axillary nerve blocks with suprascapular nerve block alone for the treatment of frozen shoulder pain. MethodologyA total of 61 patients with frozen shoulder included in the study underwent ultrasound-guided combined suprascapular and axillary nerve block (n ​= ​31) and suprascapular nerve block (n ​= ​30). All the patients were assessed for visual analogue scale (VAS) pain (0-10), simple pain score (0-5), total pain score (0-9), range of motion (abduction, external rotation, and internal rotation) of the affected shoulder joint at baseline and post-procedure at 7 days, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. ResultThere was a significant improvement in VAS pain score, simple pain scores, total pain scores and range of motion of the affected shoulder joint in both groups at all time points as compared to the baseline. However, in the combined nerve block group the VAS scores, simple and total pain scores, abduction, and internal rotation were significantly better at 6 months, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months, respectively. ConclusionThe combined block provided faster and superior pain relief and improvement in function.