• J Børglum, A Bartholdy, H Hautopp, M R Krogsgaard, and K Jensen.
• Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg, Denmark. jbn@dadlnet.dk
• Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2011 Feb 1;55(2):242-7.

AbstractWe present a case with an ultrasound-guided (USG) placement of a perineural catheter beneath the transverse scapular ligament in the scapular notch to provide a continuous block of the suprascapular nerve (SSN). The patient suffered from a severe and very painful adhesive capsulitis of the left shoulder secondary to an operation in the same shoulder conducted 20 weeks previously for impingement syndrome and a superior labral anterior-posterior tear. Following a new operation with capsular release, the placement of a continuous nerve block catheter subsequently allowed for nearly pain-free low impact passive and guided active mobilization by the performing physiotherapist for three consecutive weeks. This case and a short topical review on the use of SSN block in painful shoulder conditions highlight the possibility of a USG continuous nerve block of the SSN as sufficient pain management in the immediate post-operative period following capsular release of the shoulder. Findings in other painful shoulder conditions and suggestions for future studies are discussed in the text.© 2011 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2011 The Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica Foundation.

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