Abstract: Abstract: Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of suprascapular nerve block (SSB) in patients with arthroscopic rotator cuff injury. Methods From June 2015 to June 2018, 95 patients with elective rotator cuff injury repair in our hospital were selected, aged 18-65 years, and ASA grade I-II. Patients were randomly assigned to the suprascapular nerve block (SSB, n=48) group and the interscalene brachial plexus block (ISB, n=47) group. The VAS scores of the two groups were evaluated immediately after admission to the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), 1 hour after surgery, 2 hours after surgery, 4 hours after surgery, 8 hours after surgery and 24 hours after surgery. The amount of analgesic drugs and number of patients, and the amount of postoperative analgesic drugs were recorded. The number of patients with opioid side effects and the number of patients with adverse events in the nerve block were recorded. Results The VAS scores at the moment of PACU admission and 1 hour after operation were significantly higher in SSB group than those in ISB group (P＜0.05). There were no significant differences in VAS scores at 2 h, 4 h, 8 h and 24 h after operation between the two groups (P＞0.05). There were no significant differences in the proportion of tramadol and hydromorphone usage 24-hour after operation between the two groups (P＞0.05). The incidences of Horner syndrome, hoarseness, dyspnea and upper limb weakness were significantly lower in the SSB group than those in the ISB group (P＜0.05). Conclusion The superior scapular nerve block can provide postoperative analgesia similar to the intermuscular brachial plexus block in patients with shoulder arthroscopy, but the early analgesia is not effective. The brachial plexus block is safer.

Key words: suprascapular nerve block, intermuscular groove brachial plexus block, shoulder arthroscopy rotator cuff injury repair