Ultrasound Guided Suprascapular Nerve Block Versus ISB Block in Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery

Severe intraoperative and postoperative pain associated with arthroscopic shoulder surgery has high incidence reaching up to 45%; it is often significant enough to interfere with initial recovery and rehabilitation. Shoulder arthroscopy is becoming more common, representing the second most common Orthopedic surgery after knee arthroscopy . Interscalene brachial plexus block (ISB) is the gold standard analgesic technique for shoulder surgeries with success rates of 87% to 100%, but it also blocks the phrenic nerve (C3-C5). Suprascapular nerve block via the anterior approach (SSB-A) is performed distally at the trunk/division level of the brachial plexus, thereby potentially sparing the phrenic nerve and minimising many adverse effects of ISB