Premium
Ultrasound‐guided continuous suprascapular nerve block for adhesive capsulitis: one case and a short topical review
Author(s) -
BØRGLUM J.,
BARTHOLDY A.,
HAUTOPP H.,
KROGSGAARD M. R.,
JENSEN K.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
acta anaesthesiologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1399-6576
pISSN - 0001-5172
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-6576.2010.02370.x
Subject(s) - medicine , capsulitis , surgery , suprascapular nerve , catheter , nerve block , anesthesia , range of motion , brachial plexus
We present a case with an ultrasound‐guided (USG) placement of a perineural catheter beneath the transverse scapular ligament in the scapular notch to provide a continuous block of the suprascapular nerve (SSN). The patient suffered from a severe and very painful adhesive capsulitis of the left shoulder secondary to an operation in the same shoulder conducted 20 weeks previously for impingement syndrome and a superior labral anterior–posterior tear. Following a new operation with capsular release, the placement of a continuous nerve block catheter subsequently allowed for nearly pain‐free low impact passive and guided active mobilization by the performing physiotherapist for three consecutive weeks. This case and a short topical review on the use of SSN block in painful shoulder conditions highlight the possibility of a USG continuous nerve block of the SSN as sufficient pain management in the immediate post‐operative period following capsular release of the shoulder. Findings in other painful shoulder conditions and suggestions for future studies are discussed in the text.