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.