Comparison of the Efficacy of Ultrasound Guided vs Non-guided Suprascapular Nerve Block Treatment in Stroke Patients

February 25, 2025 updated by: Serdar Kilinc, Abant Izzet Baysal University

Comparison of the Efficacy of Ultrasound Guided vs Non-guided Suprascapular Nerve Block Treatment in Stroke Patients With Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain.

The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided and non-guided suprascapular nerve block in the treatment of patients with hemiplegic shoulder pain, which is one of the most common post-stroke complications.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

Hemiplegic shoulder pain is a general term used to describe shoulder pain that occurs after a stroke. It is one of the complications that significantly affects the rehabilitation of patients.The suprascapular nerve takes up 70% of the sensation of the shoulder joint. For this reason, suprascapular nerve block treatment is applied in the treatment of hemiplegic shoulder pain.In patients with hemiplegic shoulder pain, suprascapular nerve block therapy can be performed under ultrasound guidance or using anatomical landmarks. However, there is no study in the literature comparing the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided and unguided suprascapular nerve block in the treatment of hemiplegic shoulder pain Patients with hemiplegic shoulder pain among the patients who received routine conservative rehabilitation treatment in the physical therapy and rehabilitation clinic with the diagnosis of post-stroke hemiplegia will be included in the study.

Hemiplegic patients aged 25-75 years, with shoulder pain lasting for 3 months and with a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) value > 3 during passive shoulder joint movement will be included in the study.

Exclusion criteria from the study will be determined as mini mental test score < 24, uncontrolled diabetes, coagulopathy, botulinum toxin administration in the last six months, any injection from the shoulder region in the last six months, and hypersensitivity to injection agents.

It will be organized as a prospective randomized study. It is planned to include 50 patients in the study. Patients will be randomized into two groups in equal numbers, stratified by age and sex.

Patients in group 1 will be applied with ultrasound-guided suprascapular nerve block.

Patients in Group 2 will be applied with suprascapular nerve block using defined anatomical points without ultrasound guidance.

Initially, demographic data, medical history, stroke etiology, duration of stroke, body mass index, hemiplegic side information of the patients will be obtained.

Patients in both groups will be evaluated in terms of shoulder joint range of motion, Visual Analogue Scale, Brunnstrom Stages of Stroke Recovery, Barthel Index, Modified Ashworth Scale, The Beck Depression Inventory before the treatment, at the 1st week, 1st month and 3rd month after the injection.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

50

Phase

  • Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

21 years to 71 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Having hemiplegic shoulder pain for 3 months
  • Visual analogue scale score > 3 during passive shoulder joint movement on the hemiplegic side

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Mini mental test score <24
  • Patients with uncontrolled diabetes, coagulopathy
  • Botulinum toxin administration in the past six months,
  • Any injection in the shoulder region in the last six months
  • Having hypersensitivity to injection agents

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Ultrasound-guided Suprascapular Nerve Block

For suprascapular nerve block, a solution consisting of 5 ml 2% lidocaine, 1 ml Betamethasone dipropionate + Betamethasone sodium phosphate (6.43 mg/ml + 2.63 mg/ml), 4 ml saline will be used.

Injections will be applied to patients in a sitting position and arm by the side. A linear probe with a frequency of 7-8 MHz on the SonoScape A8 ultrasound device will be used for suprascapular block under ultrasound guidance. the ultrasound probe was placed in the coronal plane over the suprascapular fossa. Suprascapular fossa was scanned from medial to lateral side to identify suprascapular nerve. After identification, solution of suprascapular nerve block will be injected into the area around the nerve under the scanning with in-plane technique with a 22 gauge 90 mm spinal needle.

Active Comparator: Anatomical Landmark-guided Suprascapular Nerve Block

For suprascapular nerve block, a solution consisting of 5 ml 2% lidocaine, 1 ml Betamethasone dipropionate + Betamethasone sodium phosphate (6.43 mg/ml + 2.63 mg/ml), 4 ml saline will be used.

Injections will be applied to patients in a sitting position and arm by the side. The suprascapular notch projection will be determined using the anatomical landmark technique defined by Dangoisse et al., and then suprascapular nerve block will be applied with a 22 gauge 90 mm spinal needle to the patients

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Shoulder Range of Motion
Time Frame: Before suprascapular nerve block
The range of motion of the hemiplegic shoulder joint will be measured passively with a goniometer in the flexion, abduction, internal rotation and external rotation directions.
Before suprascapular nerve block
Shoulder Range of Motion
Time Frame: 1 week after suprascapular nerve block
The range of motion of the hemiplegic shoulder joint will be measured passively with a goniometer in the flexion, abduction, internal rotation and external rotation directions.
1 week after suprascapular nerve block
Shoulder Range of Motion
Time Frame: 4 week after suprascapular nerve block
The range of motion of the hemiplegic shoulder joint will be measured passively with a goniometer in the flexion, abduction, internal rotation and external rotation directions.
4 week after suprascapular nerve block
Shoulder Range of Motion
Time Frame: 12 week after suprascapular nerve block
The range of motion of the hemiplegic shoulder joint will be measured passively with a goniometer in the flexion, abduction, internal rotation and external rotation directions.
12 week after suprascapular nerve block
Visual Analogue Scale
Time Frame: Before suprascapular nerve block
Pain was evaluated using a 10 cm long Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) during rest and activity (0 = no pain, 10 = very severe pain).
Before suprascapular nerve block
Visual Analogue Scale
Time Frame: 1 week after suprascapular nerve block
Pain was evaluated using a 10 cm long Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) during rest and activity (0 = no pain, 10 = very severe pain).
1 week after suprascapular nerve block
Visual Analogue Scale
Time Frame: 4 week after suprascapular nerve block
Pain was evaluated using a 10 cm long Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) during rest and activity (0 = no pain, 10 = very severe pain).
4 week after suprascapular nerve block
Visual Analogue Scale
Time Frame: 12 week after suprascapular nerve block
Pain was evaluated using a 10 cm long Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) during rest and activity (0 = no pain, 10 = very severe pain).
12 week after suprascapular nerve block

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Barthel Index
Time Frame: Before suprascapular nerve block
The Barthel index is used to assess activities of daily living. It consists of 10 items: feeding, bathing, grooming, dressing, bowel, bladder, toilet use, transfers, mobility, stairs. Scores range from 0-100. A score of 100 represents complete independence, and a score of 0 represents complete dependence.
Before suprascapular nerve block
Barthel Index
Time Frame: 1 week after suprascapular nerve block
The Barthel index is used to assess activities of daily living. It consists of 10 items: feeding, bathing, grooming, dressing, bowel, bladder, toilet use, transfers, mobility, stairs. Scores range from 0-100. A score of 100 represents complete independence, and a score of 0 represents complete dependence.
1 week after suprascapular nerve block
Barthel Index
Time Frame: 4 week after suprascapular nerve block
The Barthel index is used to assess activities of daily living. It consists of 10 items: feeding, bathing, grooming, dressing, bowel, bladder, toilet use, transfers, mobility, stairs. Scores range from 0-100. A score of 100 represents complete independence, and a score of 0 represents complete dependence.
4 week after suprascapular nerve block
Barthel Index
Time Frame: 12 week after suprascapular nerve block
The Barthel index is used to assess activities of daily living. It consists of 10 items: feeding, bathing, grooming, dressing, bowel, bladder, toilet use, transfers, mobility, stairs. Scores range from 0-100. A score of 100 represents complete independence, and a score of 0 represents complete dependence.
12 week after suprascapular nerve block
Modified Ashworth Scale
Time Frame: Before suprascapular nerve block
Spasticity in the shoulder will be evaluated according to the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). The Modified Ashworth Scale is a 6-point scale. Scores range from 0 to 4, where lower scores represent normal muscle tone and higher scores represent increased degree of spasticity.
Before suprascapular nerve block
Modified Ashworth Scale
Time Frame: 1 week after suprascapular nerve block
Spasticity in the shoulder will be evaluated according to the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). The Modified Ashworth Scale is a 6-point scale. Scores range from 0 to 4, where lower scores represent normal muscle tone and higher scores represent increased degree of spasticity.
1 week after suprascapular nerve block
Modified Ashworth Scale
Time Frame: 4 week after suprascapular nerve block
Spasticity in the shoulder will be evaluated according to the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). The Modified Ashworth Scale is a 6-point scale. Scores range from 0 to 4, where lower scores represent normal muscle tone and higher scores represent increased degree of spasticity.
4 week after suprascapular nerve block
Modified Ashworth Scale
Time Frame: 12 week after suprascapular nerve block
Spasticity in the shoulder will be evaluated according to the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS). The Modified Ashworth Scale is a 6-point scale. Scores range from 0 to 4, where lower scores represent normal muscle tone and higher scores represent increased degree of spasticity.
12 week after suprascapular nerve block
Brunnstrom Stages of Stroke Recovery
Time Frame: Before suprascapular nerve block
Brunnstrom Stages of Stroke Recovery will be used to determine the levels of motor function in the upper extremity and hand.
Before suprascapular nerve block
Brunnstrom Stages of Stroke Recovery
Time Frame: 1 week after suprascapular nerve block
Brunnstrom Stages of Stroke Recovery will be used to determine the levels of motor function in the upper extremity and hand.
1 week after suprascapular nerve block
Brunnstrom Stages of Stroke Recovery
Time Frame: 4 week after suprascapular nerve block
Brunnstrom Stages of Stroke Recovery will be used to determine the levels of motor function in the upper extremity and hand.
4 week after suprascapular nerve block
Brunnstrom Stages of Stroke Recovery
Time Frame: 12 week after suprascapular nerve block
Brunnstrom Stages of Stroke Recovery will be used to determine the levels of motor function in the upper extremity and hand.
12 week after suprascapular nerve block
The Beck Depression Inventory
Time Frame: Before suprascapular nerve block
The Beck Depression Inventory is a 21-question multiple-choice self-report inventory, used instruments for measuring the severity of depression. Scores from 0 to 9 represent minimal depressive symptoms, scores of 10 to 16 indicate mild depression, scores of 17 to 29 indicate moderate depression, and scores of 30 to 63 indicate severe depression.
Before suprascapular nerve block
The Beck Depression Inventory
Time Frame: 1 week after suprascapular nerve block
The Beck Depression Inventory is a 21-question multiple-choice self-report inventory, used instruments for measuring the severity of depression. Scores from 0 to 9 represent minimal depressive symptoms, scores of 10 to 16 indicate mild depression, scores of 17 to 29 indicate moderate depression, and scores of 30 to 63 indicate severe depression.
1 week after suprascapular nerve block
The Beck Depression Inventory
Time Frame: 4 week after suprascapular nerve block
The Beck Depression Inventory is a 21-question multiple-choice self-report inventory, used instruments for measuring the severity of depression. Scores from 0 to 9 represent minimal depressive symptoms, scores of 10 to 16 indicate mild depression, scores of 17 to 29 indicate moderate depression, and scores of 30 to 63 indicate severe depression.
4 week after suprascapular nerve block
The Beck Depression Inventory
Time Frame: 12 week after suprascapular nerve block
The Beck Depression Inventory is a 21-question multiple-choice self-report inventory, used instruments for measuring the severity of depression. Scores from 0 to 9 represent minimal depressive symptoms, scores of 10 to 16 indicate mild depression, scores of 17 to 29 indicate moderate depression, and scores of 30 to 63 indicate severe depression.
12 week after suprascapular nerve block

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Serdar kılınç, Abant Izzet Baysal University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

March 15, 2022

Primary Completion (Estimated)

March 30, 2025

Study Completion (Estimated)

March 30, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 18, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 18, 2022

First Posted (Actual)

March 2, 2022

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 25, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 25, 2025

Last Verified

February 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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