title: Pulsed radiofrequency applied to the suprascapular nerve in painful cuff tear arthropathy.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) applied to the suprascapular nerve for pain relief in medically unfit patients with painful cuff tear arthropathy. Twelve patients with chronic shoulder pain due to cuff tear arthropathy were recruited. The mean age was 68 years (range, 60-83 years). The suprascapular nerve was targeted at the suprascapular notch with PRF. The patients were assessed with the Oxford score, Constant score, and visual analog scale (VAS) pain score before ablation and 3 and 6 months after ablation. Statistical analysis was undertaken by use of the Friedman test. Ten patients showed improvement in the VAS score (P = .24) and Constant score (P = .005) and eleven in the Oxford score (P = .001). There was a deterioration in the VAS scores between 3 and 6 months, suggesting that the benefits were starting to wear off with time (P > .05). We conclude that PRF may be a useful therapeutic adjunct in patients with painful, end-stage rotator cuff tear arthropathy who are medically unfit for surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Timothy P C
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hazelgrove
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wimsey
authors.forename: Gareth D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Harper
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000528:radiation effects; D000078702:Radiofrequency Therapy; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000294:innervation*; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries; D020069:Shoulder Pain