Dorsal Scapular Nerve Injection Combined With Muscle Needle Release

Efficacy of Ultrasound-guided Dorsal Scapular Nerve Injection Combined With Rhomboideus Muscle Needle Release

Ultrasound-guided perineural injection (PIT) of 5% dextrose (D5W) hydrodissection has been widely used in the treatment of peripheral entrapment neuropathies. However, there are few studies investigating the efficacy of PIT using D5W HD for dorsal scapular nerve (DSN) entrapment. Generally, the DSN entrapment causes the stiffness of the major and minor rhomboideus(2). In clinical practice, the investigators observed that ultrasound-guided PIT using D5W HD combined with needle release of major and minor rhomboideus significantly relieved the pain of scapular region. Therefore, the investigators aimed to evaluate the 6-month efficacy of this procedure for the participants with DSN entrapment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with DSN entrapment confirmed by electrophysiological study;
• age 18-80 years;
• patients who were irresponsive to conservative treatment;
• symptoms persisted for more than 3 months.

Exclusion Criteria:

• pregnancy
• DSN entrapment caused by trauma, surgery or occupying lesions of DSN;
• concurrent presence of rheumatic immune diseases, hypothyroidism, or diabetes mellitus;
• C5/6 lumbar radiculopathy;
• previous history of local injection or surgery for DSN entrapment.