Ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency neuromodulation of the suprascapular nerve in partial rotator cuff tears

Abstract

Background/Aim: Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) of the suprascapular nerve has been shown to be effective in the treatment of chronicshoulder pain. Ultrasound (US) guidance has gained popularity in regional blocks recently. This study aims to investigate the efficacy ofsuprascapular nerve pulsed radiofrequency under the guidance of ultrasonography.Materials and methods: This retrospective study included patients treated with PRF of the suprascapular nerve with a diagnosis ofpartial rotator cuff tears. The patients were assessed with a numeric rating scale (NRS), the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI),and a Likert patient satisfaction score before the treatment and 3 weeks and 6 months following the treatment.Results: A total of 31 patients was included in the study. The patients’ mean age was 66.8 ± 13.3 years. The mean scores of the NRS,SPADI, and Likert scale before the procedure (7.32 ± 1.1, 69.0 ± 8.5, 1.6 ± 0.6) and at 3 weeks (2.9 ± 2.1, 32.1 ± 17.20, 4 ± 1.2) and 6months (3.2 ± 2.6, 33.9 ± 20.8, 3.8 ± 1.2) after the procedure were evaluated. We observed significant improvement in NRS, SPADI, andLikert scores at 3 weeks and 6 months following the treatment (P < 0.001).Conclusion: The study demonstrated that US-guided suprascapular nerve PRF achieves good pain relief and functional improvementin patients with partial rotator cuff tears for at least 6 months.