J Korean Acad Rehabil Med.  2009 Apr;33(2):219-224.

Comparison of Blind and Ultasonography Guided Approach of Suprascapular Nerve Block

• Lee JH
• Kim SB
• Lee KW
• Joe YL
• Kim YD

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To compare ultrasonography guided versus blind approach in a randomized trial examining the efficacy of suprascapular nerve block in patients with non-specific shoulder pain. METHOD: A total of 20 patients with shoulder pain lasting for more than 1 month were included in this study. After 1:1 randomization, patients were included either in the blind group (n=10) or in the ultrasonography guided group (n=10) of suprascapular nerve block. All patients were evaluated before and after treatment, in terms of shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI) and nerve conduction study.
RESULTS
Significant improvements were seen in all pain scores and disability after both types of nerve block, with no significant difference in the improvement of pain and disability between the two approaches. However, amplitude changes of nerve conduction study were larger in ultrasonography guided approach than blind approach.
CONCLUSION
This study suggests ultrasonography guided approach of suprascapular nerve block could place the needle closer to the nerve compared to blind approach.

Keyword

Suprascapular nerve; Nerve block; Ultrasonography

MeSH Terms

Humans
Hypogonadism
Mitochondrial Diseases
Needles
Nerve Block
Neural Conduction
Ophthalmoplegia
Random Allocation
Shoulder Pain
Hypogonadism
Mitochondrial Diseases
Ophthalmoplegia