The Use of a Suprascapular Nerve Block to Facilitate the Reduction of an Anterior Shoulder Dislocation

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.