The American journal of orthopedics
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Postoperative pain management for arthroscopic shoulder surgery: interscalene block versus patient-controlled infusion of 0.25% bupivicaine.
We compared an interscalene block with a patient-controlled regional anesthesia device (Pain Care 2000; Breg, Inc, Vista, Calif) for pain management after outpatient arthroscopic shoulder surgery (subacromial decompression as principal procedure). The 41 patients in this prospective study were randomized to receive either the block or the device. During the postoperative period, all patients in both groups received standardized oral medications and continuous cold therapy and used continuous passive motion machines. ⋯ Compared with patients using the block, patients using the device awoke significantly fewer times the first night after surgery (P = .023), were significantly more active during postoperative days 1 and 2 (Ps = .018, .042), and took significantly fewer pain medications on postoperative day 2 (P = .034). On all other measures, results were equivalent or were better with the device, though these findings were not statistically significant. Patient-controlled subacromial infusion of bupivicaine is an effective alternative to interscalene block for outpatient pain management after arthroscopic shoulder surgery.