Interscalene Brachial Plexus Block Combined With Suprascapular Nerve Block

The Effect of Sono-Guided Interscalene Brachial Plexus Block Combined With Arthroscopy-Guided Suprascapular Nerve Block in Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The investigators compared the results of sono-guided interscalene brachial plexus block (ISB) combined with arthroscopy-guided suprascapular nerve block (SSNB) with those of ISB alone within the first 48 h after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

Forty-eight patients with rotator cuff tears who had undergone arthroscopic rotator cuff repair were enrolled. The 24 patients randomly allocated to group 1 received ISB and SSNB; the remaining 24 patients in group 2 underwent ISB alone. VAS pain score, patient's satisfaction (SAT) were checked postoperative 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 36, and 48 hours. VAS pain score was selected from 0 to 10 was no pain and 10 was severe pain that the patient had ever experienced. SAT was also selected from 0 to 10 was unsatisfactory and 10 was very satisfactory. Rebound of postoperative pain was confirmed if there had been an increase of VAS pain score after postoperative 1 hour.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. definite rotator cuff tear on preoperative MRI, which needed repair;
2. acceptance of arthroscopic surgery including rotator cuff repair;
3. > 20 years old; and
4. acceptance of routine regional blocks and patient-controlled analgesia.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. did not want arthroscopic rotator cuff repair;
2. stopped PCA before 48 h postoperatively due to side effects;
3. history of shoulder operation or fracture;
4. concomitant neurological disorder around the shoulder;
5. conversion to open surgery from the arthroscopy; and
6. contraindication to the routine regional blocks in this study