• José Miguel Esparza-Miñana and Guido Mazzinari.
• Escuela de Doctorado, Hospital de Manises, Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir, Valencia, España.
• Pain Med. 2019 Aug 1; 20 (8): 1547-1550.

BackgroundIt has been estimated that 20% of the general population will suffer shoulder pain throughout their lives, with a prevalence that can reach up to 50%. The suprascapular nerve (SSN) provides sensation for the posterior and superior regions of the glenohumeral joint, whereas the anterior and inferior zones and the skin are innervated mostly by the axillary nerve. Pulsed radiofrequency on the SSN has been proposed as a therapeutic option in chronic shoulder pain. Axillary nerve block has been proposed in the context of surgical analgesia as an adjuvant to SSN block.InterventionsUltrasound (US)-guided techniques target the nerve selectively, minimizing patients' and physicians' exposure to harmful radiation while increasing success rates by better needle placement. We perform both US-guided techniques with the patient in a lateral decubitus position with the affected shoulder on the upper side.ObjectiveThe aim of this report is to describe the adaptation of a US-guided technique that targets both the suprascapular and axillary nerves for the treatment of painful shoulder syndrome. The simultaneous pulsed radiofrequency on the suprascapular and axillary nerves for the treatment of the chronic condition of shoulder pain has been scarcely studied, with very few references in the literature.ConclusionsBy adapting an approach developed in acute pain management, we can safely deliver pulsed radiofrequency to the suprascapular and axillary nerves for the treatment of shoulder pain.© 2019 American Academy of Pain Medicine. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

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