A case series of suprascapular nerve block (with an historical comparator) for shoulder pain in motor neurone disease

E. Michael Shanahan, Karen Glaezter, Tiffany Gill, Catherine Hill, Scott Graf, Peter Allcroft

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    5 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Background: Shoulder pain is a distressing but under-reported and poorly managed symptom in people with motor neurone disease. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the efficacy of suprascapular nerve block for the management of shoulder pain in patients with motor neurone disease. Methods: A total of 27 patients with motor neurone disease and shoulder pain were offered a suprascapular nerve block. Ten of these patients had bilateral shoulder pain and both were injected, making a total of 37 shoulders. The patients were followed up for a total of 3 months, or until death. Shoulder pain was measured using the pain scale (out of 100) of the shoulder pain and disability index and compared with baseline scores and a placebo control group from an earlier study using the same methodology (ACTRN12619000353190). Results: Following the nerve block there was a significant improvement of pain scores from baseline (58.4) at week 1 (20.8, p < 0.000), week 6 (17.6, p < 0.000) and week 12 (30.4, p = 0.001) and a significant improvement compared with the control group across each time interval. Conclusion: Suprascapular nerve block is a safe, effective therapy for patients with chronic shoulder pain.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1127-1133
    Number of pages7
    JournalPalliative Medicine
    Volume34
    Issue number8
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Sept 2020

    Keywords

    • case series
    • motor neurone disease
    • Shoulder pain
    • suprascapular nerve block

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