Comparison of analgesic efficacy between single interscalene block combined with a continuous intra-bursal infusion of ropivacaine and continuous interscalene block after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.
BACKGROUND
This study evaluated the effectiveness of a continuous interscalene block (CISB) by comparing it with that of a single interscalene block combined with a continuous intra-bursal infusion of ropivacaine (ISB-IB) after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.


METHODS
Patients who had undergone CISB (CISB group; n = 25) were compared with those who had undergone ISB-IB (ISB-IB group; n = 25) for more than 48 hours after surgery. The visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, motor and/or sensory deficit, supplementary analgesics and adverse effects were recorded.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences between the postoperative VAS of the CISB and ISB-IB groups, except at 1 hour after surgery. Their supplementary analgesics of the two groups were similar. Transient motor weakness (52%) and sensory disturbance (40%) of the affected arm were observed in patients in the CISB group. The catheters came out accidentally in 22% of the CISB group but in only 4% of the ISB-IB group.


CONCLUSIONS
ISB-IB provides similar analgesia to CISB. However, the ISB-IB group had a lower incidence of neurological deficits and better catheter retention.
Oh
Joo Han
JH
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Korea.
Rhee
Ka-Young
KY
Kim
Sae Hoon
SH
Lee
Pyung-Bok
PB
Lee
Joon-Woo
JW
Lee
Seok Jae
SJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000577:Amides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000698:Analgesia / Q000379:methods*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001182:Arthroscopy; D002061:Bursa, Synovial; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D036502:Infusions, Intralesional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000077212:Ropivacaine; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000601:surgery*; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000601:surgery
D000577:Amides; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000077212:Ropivacaine