2023 AAOS Annual Meeting: Interscalene Block Versus Periarticular Liposomal Bupivacaine for Pain Control following Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Randomized Trial

64 patients undergoing reverse shoulder arthroplasty were randomized to receive either a preoperative interscalene nerve block with ropivacaine (n=32) or an intraoperative periarticular injection of liposomal bupivacaine (n=32). The primary outcome of this trial was opioid consumption, pain scores measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and patient satisfaction after 2 days, post-operation. The secondary outcomes assessed the effect of patient group preference and psychological variables on patient satisfaction. Length of stay, pain-related phone calls and readmissions, and the number of narcotic refills. The results found that intraoperative and postoperative day zero opioid consumption was significantly lower in the nerve block group. No other differences in VAS, length of stay, number of narcotic refills, and pain-related phone calls or readmissions were apparent. Overall patient satisfaction was significantly better in the nerve block group.