Abstract
Background/AimPulsed radiofrequency (PRF) of the suprascapular nerve has been shown to be effective in the treatment of chronic shoulder pain. Ultrasound (US) guidance has gained popularity in regional blocks recently. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of suprascapular nerve pulsed radiofrequency under the guidance of ultrasonography.Materials and methodsThis retrospective study included patients treated with PRF of the suprascapular nerve with a diagnosis of partial rotator cuff tears. The patients were assessed with a numeric rating scale (NRS), the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), and a Likert patient satisfaction score before the treatment and 3 weeks and 6 months following the treatment.ResultsA total of 31 patients was included in the study. The patients’ mean age was 66.8 ± 13.3 years. The mean scores of the NRS, SPADI, and Likert scale before the procedure (7.32 ± 1.1, 69.0 ± 8.5, 1.6 ± 0.6) and at 3 weeks (2.9 ± 2.1, 32.1 ± 17.20, 4 ± 1.2) and 6 months (3.2 ± 2.6, 33.9 ± 20.8, 3.8 ± 1.2) after the procedure were evaluated. We observed significant improvement in NRS, SPADI, and Likert scores at 3 weeks and 6 months following the treatment (P < 0.001).ConclusionThe study demonstrated that US-guided suprascapular nerve PRF achieves good pain relief and functional improvement in patients with partial rotator cuff tears for at least 6 months.
Highlights
Management of shoulder pain requires a multimodal and algorithmic approach, including the use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), physiotherapy, selective nerve interventions, and surgical procedures [1]
The study demonstrated that US-guided suprascapular nerve pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) achieves good pain relief and functional improvement in patients with partial rotator cuff tears for at least 6 months
We aimed to investigate the efficacy of USguided suprascapular nerve PRF on chronic shoulder pain and function in patients with partial rotator cuff lesions
Summary
Management of shoulder pain requires a multimodal and algorithmic approach, including the use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), physiotherapy, selective nerve interventions, and surgical procedures [1]. A suprascapular nerve block is administered first with local anesthetic agents and corticosteroids [2]. The risk of nerve injury, infection, and side effects due to steroid use may increase [3]. Other therapeutic options, including neurolysis or neurectomy of the suprascapular nerve, may cause permanent paralysis of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles [4]. Suprascapular nerve pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) neuromodulation has emerged as an alternative intervention for pain control since 2002 and has been increasingly used to date [5]. Recent studies have reported that suprascapular nerve PRF under ultrasound (US) guidance provides direct visualization of the nerve, In this study, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of USguided suprascapular nerve PRF on chronic shoulder pain and function in patients with partial rotator cuff lesions
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