title: A randomized study of the effectiveness of suprascapular nerve block in patient satisfaction and outcome after arthroscopic subacromial decompression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the suprascapular nerve (SSN) block in pain reduction after arthroscopic subacromial decompression operations and its influence on patient satisfaction. Furthermore, we wanted to evaluate whether better perioperative pain management could positively influence postoperative shoulder function.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective, randomized, double-blinded clinical trial, 3 groups of patients--each with 15 participants--were treated with SSN block (10 mL of 1% ropivacaine), placebo, or a subacromial infiltration of local anesthesia (20 mL of 1% ropivacaine). Preoperative and postoperative pain was evaluated with a visual analog scale. Functional outcome was measured by the Constant-Murley score, and patient satisfaction was measured anecdotally by interview 2 days, 2 weeks, and 6 weeks after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The SSN group reported significantly lower levels of postoperative pain, required significantly less analgesia, had better range of motion, and had higher levels of postoperative satisfaction in comparison to the subacromial infiltration group and placebo group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients treated with SSN blocks had less pain overall, which led to a decreased need for analgesics in comparison to the subacromial infiltration and placebo groups. Furthermore, patients in the SSN-blocked group achieved better postoperative ROM and were significantly more satisfied after surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traumatology and Sports Medicine, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Hans-Christian
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Jeske
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kralinger
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wambacher
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Perwanger
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schoepf
authors.forename: Juergen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oberladstaetter
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Krappinger
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dallapozza
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000577:Amides; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D000077212:Ropivacaine; D019534:Shoulder Impingement Syndrome / Q000601:surgery*; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D000700:Analgesics; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000077212:Ropivacaine