Comparison of the Efficacy of Ultrasound-Guided Suprascapular Nerve Block Versus Intra-articular Platelet-Rich Plasma in Periarthritis Shoulder Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

TL;DR

This study compared two treatments for shoulder pain and found that platelet-rich plasma provided better results than nerve blocks over time.

Contribution

The study provides new evidence comparing the efficacy of two interventions for periarthritis shoulder pain in a randomized controlled trial.

Findings

Both treatments improved shoulder pain and function, but platelet-rich plasma showed better outcomes over time.

Platelet-rich plasma significantly outperformed nerve blocks in pain reduction and range of motion at six and 12 weeks.

Improvements in external rotation with platelet-rich plasma became significant after six weeks.

Abstract

Purpose: The study aimed to compare the effect of ultrasound-guided suprascapular nerve block (SSNB) to intra-articular platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in the management of periarthritis shoulder (PA shoulder).

Methods: This study was a single-center randomized, interventional clinical trial conducted in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences (UPUMS), a tertiary care teaching hospital in Saifai, Etawah, over a period of 12 months from April 2024 to April 2025. Sixty patients were randomly divided into two groups (30 each). Group A received 3 ml of PRP under ultrasound guidance, and Group B underwent ultrasound-guided SSNB using 10 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine. Outcomes were assessed at the baseline and at the second, sixth, and 12th weeks post-intervention using the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) scale, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and range of motion (ROM).

Results: Both groups showed significant improvement across all measures over time. However, on intergroup comparison, the total SPADI score was insignificant at two weeks, but it became significant at six and 12 weeks in favour of the PRP group. The VAS score also favoured the PRP group throughout the study period. In the ROM, flexion and abduction were significantly improved in the PRP group, while external rotation showed no significant difference at the second week but became significant at six and 12 weeks.

Conclusions: Both USG-guided IA-PRP and SSNB are effective in PA shoulder pain management, but IA-PRP yields superior outcomes in the short to medium term.

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