Suprascapular Nerve Block in the Management of Patients Diagnosed With Adhesive Capsulitis

Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

Status

Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Suprascapular Nerve Block

Adhesive Capsulitis of the Shoulder

Treatments

Procedure: Glenohumeral Joint Injection and Suprascapular Nerve Block

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT07097571

IstanbulUC-MAvsar-01

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study aims to compare the efficacy of different suprascapular nerve block techniques in patients diagnosed with adhesive capsulitis.

Adhesive capsulitis, commonly known as frozen shoulder, is a condition characterized by pain and restricted range of motion in the shoulder joint, significantly affecting quality of life. The suprascapular nerve provides sensory innervation to the shoulder joint; therefore, nerve blockade is frequently used to alleviate pain. However, there are limited studies evaluating the difference in efficacy between proximal and distal suprascapular nerve blocks.

In this research, two different blockade techniques-at the suprascapular notch and the spinoglenoid notch-will be compared in patients diagnosed with adhesive capsulitis at Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa between 2024 and 2026. The hypothesis of the study is that the block performed at the spinoglenoid notch provides pain relief comparable to the suprascapular notch block while resulting in less motor blockade.

Patients participating in the study will be randomly assigned to two groups. Both groups will receive an intra-articular corticosteroid injection into the shoulder joint, along with cold application, Codman exercises, and standard medical therapy. Pre- and post-treatment evaluations will include pain severity (NRS), shoulder function (Modified Constant Score), muscle strength, and range of motion.

The results will reveal which technique provides better improvement in shoulder external rotator and abductor muscle strength, shoulder function, and pain relief, thereby offering valuable insights to guide treatment approaches.

Enrollment

70 estimated patients

Sex

All

Ages

35 to 75 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Patients who have had shoulder pain, restricted range of motion (ROM), and night pain for at least 4 weeks

Exclusion criteria

Age younger than 35 years or older than 75 years.
Known allergy to the agents used for injection.
History of trauma and/or surgery involving the same shoulder.
Presence of uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and/or hypertension.
Presence of severe chronic respiratory disease.
Presence of severe heart failure.
Administration of intra- or peri-articular steroid injection to the affected shoulder within the past 2 months.
Radiographic evidence of calcific tendinitis, glenohumeral osteoarthritis, acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, or bone fracture.
Full-thickness rotator cuff tear detected by shoulder ultrasonography.
History of surgical intervention or recent/past fracture in the ipsilateral upper extremity.
Presence of complex regional pain syndrome or vascular disease in the ipsilateral extremity.
Known coagulation disorders.
Cervical disc pathology causing radiculopathy.
Presence of inflammatory or malignant diseases.
History of cerebrovascular disease.
Presence of mental impairment or severe psychiatric disorders.
Pregnancy.