# Ultrasound-guided serratus posterior superior muscle block for myofascial pain syndrome in the cervicoscapular region: a report of three cases

## TL;DR

This paper reports three cases where an ultrasound-guided muscle block helped reduce pain in patients with myofascial pain syndrome in the neck and shoulder area.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates the potential of the serratus posterior superior muscle block as a novel therapeutic option for cervicoscapular myofascial pain syndrome.

## Key findings

- SPSM block with ropivacaine reduced pain scores and provided 2–3 weeks of relief in two cases.
- SPSM block with saline also reduced pain scores and provided 3 weeks of relief in two cases.
- The SPSM block appears to be a useful therapeutic option for cervicoscapular myofascial pain syndrome.

## Abstract

These case reports focus on successful pain management with ultrasound-guided serratus posterior superior muscle (SPSM) block using 30 mL of 0.25% ropivacaine or physiological saline in three myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) patients presented with cervicoscapular pain.

The SPSM block was administered to three ambulatory patients (cases #1, #2, and #3) who presented with cervicoscapular pain. The SPSM block with 30 mL of 0.25% ropivacaine drastically decreased an NRS score and provided 2–3 weeks of pain relief in cases #1 and #2. On the contrary, the SPSM block with 30 mL of physiological saline also mildly decreased an NRS score and provided 3 weeks of pain relief in cases #1 and #3.

The SPSM block using 30 mL of 0.25% ropivacaine or physiological saline successfully decreased the NRS scores in three MPS patients. These findings suggest that the SPSM block may serve as a useful therapeutic option in MPS patients presenting with cervicoscapular pain.