Anterior Suprascapular Nerve Block Versus Interscalene Brachial Plexus Block for Shoulder Surgery in the Outpatient Setting: A Randomized Controlled Patient- and Assessor-Blinded Trial.

Background and Objectives: The interscalene brachial plexus block (ISB), a potent option to control pain after shoulder surgery, has notable adverse effects. The anterior suprascapular nerve block (SSNB) might provide comparable analgesia and cause less grip-strength impairment. These characteristics were studied in this randomized controlled patient- and assessor-blinded trial. Methods: Outpatients were randomized to single-shot ultrasound-guided SSNB (10 mL ropivacaine 1%) or ISB (20 mL ropivacaine 0.75%) before general anesthesia for arthroscopic shoulder surgery. Pain (Numerical Rating Scale, 0-10), grip strength, degree of satisfaction, and strength of recommendation were assessed. Results: We randomized 168 patients to each group and analyzed 164 in the SSNB group and 165 in the ISB group. Nerve blocks were successful in 98% of the patients from each group. Both procedures provided good postoperative analgesia, and the mean pain level for SSNB was slightly but significantly lower by 0.32 units (95% confidence interval, 0.18-0.46; P

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