Subacromial pain pump use is safe after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair

Intra-articular pain pumps with local anesthetics have been implicated as a potential cause of post-arthroscopic glenohumeral chondrolysis (PAGCL) of the shoulder. In short-term studies, subacromial pain pump use is effective and safe without association with PAGCL. Patients with full thickness rotator cuff tears may be at high risk of PAGCL given disruption of the tendinous integrity which may allow intra-articular infusion of local anesthetics. We hypothesized that subacromial pain pump use after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair would not result in PAGCL.

We analyzed a consecutive series of 34 patients treated with subacromial pain pump placement after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and subacromial decompression for full thickness rotator cuff tears. Thirty patients met inclusion criteria of greater than 12-month follow-up with an average age of 51 (28-68). All patients had the subacromial pain pumps placed under arthroscopic visualization and infused 0.25% bupivacaine without epinephrine at 2 cc/h for 48 h. All patients had clinical examinations and radiographic studies performed more than 1 year after surgery.

Patients had an average rotator cuff size of 1.6 cm and fixation was performed with bioabsorbable suture anchors. All patients had at least 150° of abduction and forward flexion at latest follow-up without palpable crepitus and no patients had any evidence of joint space narrowing on post-operative radiographs.

Subacromial pain pump use after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair is safe. Despite probable lack of a water-tight seal from repair, there were no cases of PAGCL.

IV.