Suprascapular nerve block or denervation is a minimally invasive procedure to treat chronic shoulder pain by blocking or ablating the suprascapular nerve — the primary sensory nerve of the shoulder joint. It is used for pain relief in patients who are not suitable for surgery.
Under ultrasound or fluoroscopic guidance, a needle is directed to the suprascapular notch where the nerve passes. For a diagnostic/therapeutic block: local anaesthetic and corticosteroid are injected around the nerve. For denervation: radiofrequency ablation or pulsed radiofrequency is applied to provide longer-lasting relief. The procedure takes 15–30 minutes.
Suprascapular nerve block is considered for chronic shoulder pain from arthritis, massive irreparable rotator cuff tears, or frozen shoulder in patients who are not candidates for surgery or who wish to avoid it. It is also used as a diagnostic tool.
Oral analgesics, physiotherapy, intra-articular injection, and activity modification.
Outpatient procedure. No fasting required for ultrasound-guided blocks.
Diagnostic block: confirms the shoulder as the pain source. Therapeutic block: pain relief lasting weeks to months. Radiofrequency denervation: relief lasting six to twelve months. Can be repeated.
Suprascapular nerve also supplies the supraspinatus and infraspinatus — temporary weakness of external rotation.
For a few days.
Very rare with ultrasound guidance. The lung apex is nearby.
Permanent damage is very rare.
At injection site.
Local anaesthetic only. No sedation needed.
Immediate return to normal activities. May notice temporary shoulder weakness for hours to days. If effective, physiotherapy can be intensified during the pain-free window.
Assess response at two to four weeks. Repeat if effective.
A single block: weeks to months. Radiofrequency denervation: typically six to twelve months. The procedure can be repeated.