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NCT Number: NCT07097571

Suprascapular Nerve Block in the Management of Patients Diagnosed With Adhesive Capsulitis

This study aims to compare the efficacy of different suprascapular nerve block techniques in patients diagnosed with adhesive capsulitis.

Adhesive capsulitis, commonly known as frozen shoulder, is a condition characterized by pain and restricted range of motion in the shoulder joint, significantly affecting quality of life. The suprascapular nerve provides sensory innervation to the shoulder joint; therefore, nerve blockade is frequently used to alleviate pain. However, there are limited studies evaluating the difference in efficacy between proximal and distal suprascapular nerve blocks.

In this research, two different blockade techniques-at the suprascapular notch and the spinoglenoid notch-will be compared in patients diagnosed with adhesive capsulitis at Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa between 2024 and 2026. The hypothesis of the study is that the block performed at the spinoglenoid notch provides pain relief comparable to the suprascapular notch block while resulting in less motor blockade.

Patients participating in the study will be randomly assigned to two groups. Both groups will receive an intra-articular corticosteroid injection into the shoulder joint, along with cold application, Codman exercises, and standard medical therapy. Pre- and post-treatment evaluations will include pain severity (NRS), shoulder function (Modified Constant Score), muscle strength, and range of motion.

The results will reveal which technique provides better improvement in shoulder external rotator and abductor muscle strength, shoulder function, and pain relief, thereby offering valuable insights to guide treatment approaches.

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Key information

Conditions

Adhesive Capsulitis of the Shoulder Bursitis Joint Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Suprascapular Nerve Block

Age range

35 year–75 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients who have had shoulder pain, restricted range of motion (ROM), and night pain for at least 4 weeks

Exclusion criteria

  • Age younger than 35 years or older than 75 years.
  • Known allergy to the agents used for injection.
  • History of trauma and/or surgery involving the same shoulder.
  • Presence of uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and/or hypertension.
  • Presence of severe chronic respiratory disease.
  • Presence of severe heart failure.
  • Administration of intra- or peri-articular steroid injection to the affected shoulder within the past 2 months.
  • Radiographic evidence of calcific tendinitis, glenohumeral osteoarthritis, acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, or bone fracture.
  • Full-thickness rotator cuff tear detected by shoulder ultrasonography.
  • History of surgical intervention or recent/past fracture in the ipsilateral upper extremity.
  • Presence of complex regional pain syndrome or vascular disease in the ipsilateral extremity.
  • Known coagulation disorders.
  • Cervical disc pathology causing radiculopathy.
  • Presence of inflammatory or malignant diseases.
  • History of cerebrovascular disease.
  • Presence of mental impairment or severe psychiatric disorders.
  • Pregnancy.

Treatment and study plan

Glenohumeral Joint Injection and Suprascapular Nerve Block

Procedure

An intra-articular injection into the glenohumeral joint will be performed using 4 cc of normal saline and 1 cc of betamethasone. Additionally, a suprascapular nerve block will be administered with 5 cc of lidocaine(%2).

Primary outcomes

  1. Evaluation of the Strength of Shoulder External Rotation and Abduction.

    Time frame: Patients will be assessed at baseline (pre-procedure), 1 week, and 1 month following the glenohumeral joint injection and suprascapular nerve block

    Shoulder external rotation strength will be assessed in two different positions: with the arm at the side of the body and with the shoulder in 90 degrees of abduction. Additionally, shoulder abduction strength will be evaluated in two positions: with the shoulder in 90 degrees of abduction and in 90 degrees of abduction combined with 30 degrees of horizontal adduction.

  2. Pain Relief

    Time frame: Patients will be evaluated before the glenohumeral joint injection and suprascapular nerve block, as well as 1 hour, 1 week, and 1 month after the procedure.

    Pain will be assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), which ranges from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable), at rest, during movement, at night, and overall, both before and after injections into the glenohumeral joint and suprascapular nerve block. Higher scores indicate worse pain outcomes.

  3. Passive and Active Range of Motion of Shoulder

    Time frame: Patients will be assessed at baseline (pre-procedure), and at 1 hour, 1 week, and 1 month following the glenohumeral joint injection and suprascapular nerve block.

    The shoulder joint's active and passive range of motion will be measured with a goniometer

Secondary outcomes

  1. The Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)

    Time frame: Assessments were performed before, 1 hour after, 1 week after, and 1 month after the glenohumeral joint injection and suprascapular nerve block.

    A pain screening tool, commonly used to assess pain severity at that moment in time using a 0-10 scale, with zero meaning "no pain" and 10 meaning "the worst pain imaginable

  2. Modified Constant Murley Score

    Time frame: Assessments were performed before, 1 week after, and 1 month after the glenohumeral joint injection and suprascapular nerve block.

    Patients will be assessed according to the modified Constant score, focusing on pain, activities of daily living, range of motion, and muscle strength.

  3. Shoulder Disability Questionnaire

    Time frame: Assessments were performed before, 1 week after, and 1 month after the glenohumeral joint injection and suprascapular nerve block.

    Patients will respond to the items of the Shoulder Disability Questionnaire with reference to the past 24 hours.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Comparison of the Efficacy of Proximal and Distal Suprascapular Nerve Blocks Under Ultrasound Guidance in the Treatment of Patients Diagnosed With Adhesive Capsulitis

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jul 31, 2025
Registry last updated
Jul 31, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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