PROSPECTIVE RANDOMIZED STUDY COMPARING TWO ANESTHETIC METHODS FOR SHOULDER SURGERY.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Pain Management
• Anesthesiology

Background:

• Arthroscopic repair of supraspinatus tendon lesions is a common orthopedic procedure.
• Effective postoperative pain management is crucial for patient recovery and satisfaction.
• Interscalene block is a frequently used regional anesthesia technique for shoulder surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of suprascapular nerve block combined with subacromial anesthetic infusion against interscalene block for postoperative analgesia.
• To evaluate anesthetic consumption during surgery and postoperative pain scores.

Main Methods:

• A prospective randomized study involving 45 patients with small to medium isolated supraspinatus tears undergoing arthroscopic repair.
• Patients were divided into three groups, each receiving a different anesthetic combination.
• Postoperative pain was assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS), with measurements of analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and opioid consumption.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant differences were observed among the groups in terms of intraoperative anesthetic consumption.
• Postoperative analgesic efficacy, measured by VAS scores and drug consumption, showed no significant variations between the groups within the first 48 hours.
• Both anesthetic techniques provided comparable pain relief.

Conclusions:

• Suprascapular nerve block with subacromial anesthetic infusion is a safe and effective alternative to interscalene block for postoperative pain management after arthroscopic supraspinatus repair.
• This technique is particularly advantageous in settings lacking electrical nerve stimulating devices.
• The study supports the use of suprascapular nerve block as a viable option for shoulder surgery analgesia.