A Retrospective Comparison of Interscalene Continuous Catheter Verse Single-Injection with Liposomal Bupivacaine in Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

Background: One common method of pain control for total shoulder arthroplasty is long-duration delivery of local anesthetic via interscalene brachial plexus block (ISB) with a continuous catheter. Alternatively, liposomal bupivacaine has also been administered as an ISB as a means to prolong the analgesic effect. This study was completed to measure the non-inferiority of single-injection ISB with liposomal bupivacaine compared with ISB continuous catheter for total shoulder arthroplasty. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of patients who underwent total shoulder arthroplasty using either an ISB continuous catheter or a single injection ISB with liposomal bupivacaine for post operative analgesia. The primary goal of this study was to determine if single-injection with liposomal bupivacaine conferred non-inferior pain scores compared to the continuous catheter. Secondary outcomes evaluated oxygen saturation as a measure of hemidiaphragmatic paresis, post operative opioid requirements, and difference in cost. Results: We identified 333 patients for the study: 126 received continuous catheter and 207 received single-injection with liposomal bupivacaine. The median length of stay was 1 day. Pain scores for those treated with single-injection with liposomal bupivacaine were non-inferior to pain scores of those treated with the continuous catheter on post-op days 0, 1 and 2. Pain scores were lower for single-injection with liposomal bupivacaine patients on days 3 and 4, however they did not reach statistical significance. There was no significant difference in oxygen saturation between the two groups. Both groups had similar daily morphine milligram equivalent requirements. Liposomal bupivacaine ISB was also found to be less expensive. Conclusion: Single-injection ISB with liposomal bupivacaine provides non-inferior analgesia at a reduced cost compared with continuous catheter ISB for total shoulder arthroplasty.

Regional anesthesia for orthopedic procedures:What orthopedic surgeons need to know

Regional anesthesia is an integral component of successful orthopedic surgery.Neuraxial anesthesia is commonly used for surgical anesthesia while peripheral nerve blocks are often used for postoperative analgesia.Patient evaluation for regional anesthesia should include neurological,pulmonary,cardiovascular,and hematological assessments.Neuraxial blocks include spinal,epidural,and combined spinal epidural.Upper extremity peripheral nerve blocks include interscalene,supraclavicular,infraclavicular,and axillary.Lower extremity peripheral nerve blocks include femoral nerve block,saphenous nerve block,sciatic nerve block,iPACK block,ankle block and lumbar plexus block.The choice of regional anesthesia is a unanimous decision made by the surgeon,the anesthesiologist,and the patient based on a risk-benefit assessment.The choice of the regional block depends on patient cooperation,patient positing,operative structures,operative manipulation,tourniquet use and the impact of postoperative motor blockade on initiation of physical therapy.Regional anesthesia is safe but has an inherent risk of failure and a relatively low incidence of complications such as local anesthetic systemic toxicity(LAST),nerve injury,falls,hematoma,infection and allergic reactions.Ultrasound should be used for regional anesthesia procedures to improve the efficacy and minimize complications.LAST treatment guidelines and rescue medications(intralipid)should be readily available during the regional anesthesia administration.