Volume 10,Issue 8
Comparison of the Effects of Infraspinatus-Teres Minor Fascial Plane Block versus Suprascapular Nerve Combined with Axillary Nerve Block on Postoperative Analgesia and Recovery after Rotator Cuff Repair
Objective: To compare the effects of ultrasound‑guided infraspinatus‑teres minor (ITM) fascial plane block versus suprascapular nerve combined with axillary nerve block (SSAX) on postoperative analgesic efficacy and early recovery after rotator cuff repair. Methods: A total of 72 patients scheduled for elective arthroscopic rotator cuff repair at Donghai County People’s Hospital from June 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026 were enrolled and randomly divided into three groups using a random number table: ITM group (infraspinatus‑teres minor fascial plane block, n = 24), SSAX group (suprascapular nerve combined with axillary nerve block, n = 24), and group I (traditional interscalene brachial plexus block, n=24). All three groups received ultrasound‑guided nerve block 30 min before general anesthesia. The visual analog scale (VAS) scores at rest and during movement at various time points within 72 h postoperatively, incidence of diaphragmatic paralysis, recovery of sensory and motor function of the operative limb, opioid consumption, postoperative quality of recovery‑15 (QoR‑15) scores, Constant‑Murley shoulder function scores (CMS), and incidence of adverse reactions were compared among the three groups. Results: No statistically significant differences were found in VAS scores at rest and during movement at 24, 48, and 72 h postoperatively among the three groups (p > 0.05). At 30 min after block and at 6 h postoperatively, the incidence of diaphragmatic paralysis in the ITM and SSAX groups was lower than that in group I (p < 0.05). The duration of sensory and motor blockade in the ITM group was shorter than that in group I (p < 0.05). Within 24 h postoperatively, sufentanil consumption in both the ITM and SSAX groups was lower than that in group I (p < 0.05). The QoR‑15 scores at 24 h postoperatively in the ITM group, and the CMS scores at 48 h postoperatively in both the ITM and SSAX groups, were higher than those in group I (all p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions among the three groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Both ultrasound‑guided infraspinatus‑teres minor fascial plane block and suprascapular nerve combined with axillary nerve block can provide analgesic effects comparable to those of interscalene brachial plexus block after rotator cuff repair, with a lower incidence of diaphragmatic paralysis, which is conducive to early patient recovery.
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