title: Ultrasound-Guided Proximal Suprascapular Nerve Block With Radiofrequency Lesioning for Patients With Malignancy-Associated Recalcitrant Shoulder Pain.
abstract: The classic suprascapular nerve block has limitations, such as postural requirements and lack of direct nerve visualization. This series investigated the analgesic effect of ultrasound-guided supraclavicular suprascapular nerve blocks in patients with malignancy-associated shoulder pain. Ablative radiofrequency lesioning of the suprascapular nerve in 6 patients provided substantial pain relief. The mean distance from the suprascapular nerve to the brachial plexus was 8.05 mm, and the mean angle of needle entry was 20.6°. This approach appears to be effective in relieving malignancy-associated shoulder pain and is tolerated by patients unable to sit or lie prone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital, Bei-Hu Branch, and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan (K.-V.C.); Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital, Chu-Tung Branch, Hsinchu, Taiwan (C.-Y.H.); and Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (T.-G.W.,), Orthopedic Surgery (R.-S.Y.), Anesthesiology (W.-Z.S., C.-P.L.), and Oncology (R.-S.Y., C.-P.L.), National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ke-Vin
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital, Bei-Hu Branch, and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan (K.-V.C.); Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital, Chu-Tung Branch, Hsinchu, Taiwan (C.-Y.H.); and Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (T.-G.W.,), Orthopedic Surgery (R.-S.Y.), Anesthesiology (W.-Z.S., C.-P.L.), and Oncology (R.-S.Y., C.-P.L.), National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chen-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital, Bei-Hu Branch, and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan (K.-V.C.); Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital, Chu-Tung Branch, Hsinchu, Taiwan (C.-Y.H.); and Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (T.-G.W.,), Orthopedic Surgery (R.-S.Y.), Anesthesiology (W.-Z.S., C.-P.L.), and Oncology (R.-S.Y., C.-P.L.), National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tyng-Guey
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital, Bei-Hu Branch, and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan (K.-V.C.); Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital, Chu-Tung Branch, Hsinchu, Taiwan (C.-Y.H.); and Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (T.-G.W.,), Orthopedic Surgery (R.-S.Y.), Anesthesiology (W.-Z.S., C.-P.L.), and Oncology (R.-S.Y., C.-P.L.), National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Rong-Sen
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital, Bei-Hu Branch, and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan (K.-V.C.); Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital, Chu-Tung Branch, Hsinchu, Taiwan (C.-Y.H.); and Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (T.-G.W.,), Orthopedic Surgery (R.-S.Y.), Anesthesiology (W.-Z.S., C.-P.L.), and Oncology (R.-S.Y., C.-P.L.), National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wei-Zen
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital, Bei-Hu Branch, and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan (K.-V.C.); Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital, Chu-Tung Branch, Hsinchu, Taiwan (C.-Y.H.); and Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (T.-G.W.,), Orthopedic Surgery (R.-S.Y.), Anesthesiology (W.-Z.S., C.-P.L.), and Oncology (R.-S.Y., C.-P.L.), National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan. cplin0123@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Chih-Peng
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods*
keywords: malignancy; musculoskeletal ultrasound; radiofrequency lesioning; shoulder pain; suprascapular nerve block; ultrasound