Retrospective assesment of suprascapular nerve block in addition to physical therapy in patients with adhesive capsulitis

Objective: To determine the efficacy of combination of the multiple SNB and conventional treatment (physical therapy and home exercise program) on pain, functionality and range of motion (ROM) in patients with adhesive capsulitis. Material and Methods: A retrospective study was planned for 42 adhesive capsulitis patients between 23 and 65 ages. While physical therapy and HER were given to control group, combination of SNB with physical therapy and HER were administred in the treatment group. Patient's prior to the treatment, 1st, 2nd, 3rd week and 3rd mounth pain severity were measured by Visual Analog Scale. Active and passive shoulder range of motion (ROM), Shoulder Pain and Disability İndex (SPADİ) and Constant score were also evaluated prior to the treatment, 3rd week (at the end of the treatment) and 3rd mounth after the treatment. Results: At the end of the 3rd mounth, in all outcome measures of both groups statistically significant improvement was found compared to the baseline values (p<0,005). İn the intergroup comparisons, activity (p=0,031) and night (p=0,012) pain, active (p=0,025) and passive (p=0,003) abduction, active (p=0,018) and passive (p=0,030) flexion, SPADİ pain (p=0,035), disability (p=0,006) and total score (p=0,035) and Constant motion (p=0,031) score showed a significant improvement in the treatment group compared to the control group. Conclusion: In our study, conventional treatment (physical therapy and home exercise program) of adhesive capsulitis was found to bu effective on pain, range of motion (ROM) and functionality. Combination of the SNB with conventional treatment was found to improve effectiveness of treatment in the long term. According to these findings SNB applications could be added to physical therapy program to increase effectivity of the treatment. Controlled studies with much more injection procedures, larger sample size and longer follow-up periods are needed to evaluate injection treatment of frozen shoulder.