Korean J Pain.  2012 Jan;25(1):60-64. 10.3344/kjp.2012.25.1.60.

Pulsed Radiofrequency Lesioning of the Axillary and Suprascapular Nerve in Calcific Tendinitis

• Kim JS
• Nahm FS
• Choi EJ
• Lee PB
• Lee GY

• KMID: 2278119
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3344/kjp.2012.25.1.60

Abstract

The patient was a 45-year-female who presented with pain at right shoulder and right upper arm. The patient suffered from right shoulder and arm pain for 3 years and had pain management which was performed using medication and conservative management after she had been diagnosed with calcific tendinitis. However, substantial pain relief was not consistently achieved, and recurrence of pain was reported. Therefore, we performed right axillary nerve and suprascapular nerve block through pulsed radiofrequency. Two months after the procedure, the shoulder pain gradually subsided with the size reduction of the calcified nodule and she needed no more pain management.

Keyword

calcinosis; pain; radiofrequency; rotator cuff

MeSH Terms

Arm
Calcinosis
Humans
Nerve Block
Pain Management
Recurrence
Rotator Cuff
Shoulder
Shoulder Pain
Tendinopathy

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 The axillary lateal view of right shoulder of the patient. There is a 19 × 7 mm calcified lesion at right subscapularis tendon (arrow).

• 

  Fig. 2 Ultrasound image of the axillary nerve and circumjacent structure. The tip of the needle was advanced caudal to the teres minor muscle and just cranial to the posterior circumflex humeral artery.

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  Fig. 3 X-ray of 2 months after the pulsed radiofrequency lesioning. The calcific lesion was disappeared after pulsed radiofrequency lesioning.

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