Suprascapular nerve block and axillary nerve block versus interscalene nerve block for arthroscopic shoulder surgery: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

• Published in: Medicine (Baltimore) 2021-11, Vol.100 (44), p.e27661-e27661
• Main Authors: Sun, Changjiao, Zhang, Xiaofei, Ji, Xiaolin, Yu, Peng, Cai, Xu, Yang, Huadong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anesthetics, Local - administration & dosage; Arthroscopy - adverse effects; Axilla - diagnostic imaging; Axilla - surgery; Brachial Plexus Block - methods; Humans; Pain, Postoperative - etiology; Pain, Postoperative - prevention & control; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Shoulder - diagnostic imaging; Shoulder - surgery; Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
• ISSN: 0025-7974; 1536-5964
• DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000027661

The interscalene brachial plexus block (ISB) is a commonly used nerve block technique for postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing shoulder arthroscopy surgery; however, it is associated with potentially serious complications. The use of suprascapular nerve block (SSNB) and axillary Nerve Block (ANB) has been reported as an alternative nerve block with fewer reported side effects for shoulder arthroscopy. This review aimed to compare the impact of SSNB and ANB with ISB during shoulder arthroscopy surgery. A meta-analysis was conducted to identify relevant randomized or quasirandomized controlled trials involving SSNB and ISB during shoulder arthroscopy surgery. We searched Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, Cochrane Library, Highwire, CNKI, and Wanfang database from 2010 through August 2021. We identified 641 patients assessed in 10 randomized or quasirandomized controlled trials. Compared with the ISB group, the SSNB+ANB group had higher visual analog scale or numerical rating scale in PACU (P = .03), 4 hour (P = .001),6 hour after the operation (P = .002), and lower incidence of complications such as Numb/Tingling (P = .001), Weakness (P