Efficacy of Continuous Infusion Ropivacaine Interscalene Blocks
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2016-05-20
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair is a common and painful procedure routinely performed on an
outpatient basis. Postoperative pain control regimens can include narcotic pain medicine,
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications and regional anesthesia such as an interscalene
block (ISB). Regional blocks such as ISB can safely provide complete pain relief for the
shoulder and upper extremity for eight to twelve hours1. However, the shoulder is still very
painful when the block wears off. The purpose of this study is to:
1. Examine the efficacy of continuous infusion scalene block ropivacaine catheters during
the first two days after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.
2. Examine narcotic consumption after continuous infusion scalene block ropivacaine and
placebo catheters after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.
3. Evaluate for any continued pain relief benefit of continuous infusion scalene block
ropivacaine catheters during the three days after the infusion catheters have finished.