A Prospective Randomized Comparison of Ultrasound and Neurostimulation as Needle End Points for Interscalene Catheter Placement

In this prospective, randomized study, we tested the hypothesis that interscalene catheters placed for shoulder surgery using an ultrasound needle end point provide postoperative analgesia similar in quality to those placed using a neurostimulation needle end point. Secondary end points included needle time under the skin, procedure-related pain, and the incidence of early neurological complications. Patients presenting for shoulder surgery were recruited. Needles introduced for catheter insertion were initially guided with out-of-plane ultrasound imaging but were prospectively randomized to either sonographic placement immediately lateral to the interscalene interface (n = 41) or to an appropriate motor response at