Comparison of the Effectiveness of Pulsed Radiofrequency (pRF) to the Suprascapular Nerve Versus Conventional Physical Therapy Program in Chronic Shoulder Pain

This study carried out in 27 chronic shoulder pain patients aged between 18-75 years in Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Hospital. Total of 25 patients, who had > 3 months shoulder pain and pain more than > 4 according to the numerical rating scale (NRS), completed the study. Twenty-seven patients randomized into two groups, 21 patients underwent pRF of Suprascapular nerve (SSN) in Group 1; 16 patients received 10 sessions conventional physical therapy (CPT) program. One patient did not come to follow-ups after SSN pRF procedure, other patient did not complete the 10 session CPT program.

Approval for the study was granted by the 2nd Ethics Committee of Ankara Bilkent City Hospital (Protocol number: E2-23-3799). The study was conducted in line with the Helsinki Declaration. All patients signed informed consent prior to participation.

Inclusion criteria were 1) shoulder pain lasts more than 3 months 2) Shoulder pain more than 4 according to NRS 3) no passive range of motion limitation 4) unilateral chronic shoulder pain 5) INR> 1.2 in blood samples.

Exclusion criteria were 1) Adhesive capsulitis that cause passive range of motion in shoulder joint 2) History of intra-articular joint injection or physical therapy at the last 6 months 3) History of fracture, trauma or surgery 4) Accompanying rheumatologic disease or other inflammatory arthritis involved shoulder joint 5) Local infection, sepsis, malignancy or pregnancy 6) Uncontrolled diabetes or other co-morbidities that worsens general condition 7) History of allergy to the materials used in treatment 8) Mental disorders that lead incooperation.

After the informed consent patients divided into 2 groups with closed envelope method by the staff who is not participated in the study. Group 1 underwent SSN pRF and Group 2 received 10 sessions of CPT program including hotpack, therapeatic ultrasound as a deep heater and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). All patients were thought shoulder exercises such as pendulum exercises and isometric exercises around shoulder muscles to be performed individually until the 1st month follow-up.