2016 AAOS Annual Meeting: Liposomal Bupivacaine Versus Interscalene Nerve Block in Managing Pain After Shoulder Arthroplasty

80 patients undergoing either total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) or reverse TSA were included in the study. The study was conducted in order to identify the optimal postoperative pain management regimen between locally infiltrated liposomal bupivacaine and an interscalene nerve block, thus patients were randomized to receive one of the above interventions. Findings showed no significant differences between groups in pain scores throughout follow-up to 3 days postoperatively. The liposomal bupivacaine group demonstrated an initial lower volume of opioid consumption on postoperative day 0; no significant differences between were noted on postoperative days 1 or 2. Length of hospital stay was comparable between groups.