The Use of a Suprascapular Nerve Block to Facilitate the Reduction of an Anterior Shoulder Dislocation: An Alternative for Elderly and Patients With Cardiopulmonary Comorbidities?

Abstract

Background: Anterior shoulder dislocation is a common presentation to the emergency department (ED). Dislocations are spontaneous or traumatic. Generally, a reduction is performed under procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA). Other approaches include the use of intra-articular lidocaine or, in rare instances, nerve blocks. Here we discuss the case of a 66-year-old female patient who presented with left shoulder pain and limited range of motion after a fall. After discussing potential treatment options to reduce the dislocation, the patient agreed to a nerve block.

Discussion: The dislocation was reduced successfully with a suprascapular nerve block (SSNB) without complications. The duration of the patient's ED stay was shorter than those who had received PSA.

Conclusions: SSNB could be an alternative method for shoulder dislocation reduction, particularly for patients who are obese, older, or have cardiopulmonary comorbidities.

Keywords: shoulder dislocation; suprascapular nerve block.