Suprascapular nerve peripheral nerve stimulation for malignancy-related pain: A case series

Background

Blockade of the suprascapular nerve is an effective diagnostic tool in the workup and potential treatment of shoulder pain. For chronic shoulder pain, peripheral nerve stimulation has been shown to provide significant, sustained pain relief. However, no literature to date has described peripheral nerve stimulation for the treatment of oncologic shoulder pain.

Objectives

We describe two cases of chronic oncologic-related shoulder pain that responded to posterior suprascapular peripheral nerve stimulator placement to facilitate future progress and discussion in the fields of peripheral nerve stimulation and oncology pain.

Methods

Two subjects with chronic shoulder pain underwent ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve stimulation therapy at the suprascapular nerve.

Results

At follow-up visits (30 and 98 days after procedure), both subjects reported greater than 50% pain relief as measured by the numerical rating scale (NRS).

Conclusions

Peripheral nerve stimulator placement at the suprascapular nerve is a feasible procedure to treat oncologic shoulder pain via the described technique. Both subjects experienced clinically significant pain relief and decreased oral analgesic medication intake, and decreased medication-related side effects. This warrants further investigation including large comparative, prospective studies to better assess efficacy and safety of this approach.