2018 AAOS Annual Meeting: Interscalene Brachial Plexus Blockade with and without Liposomal-Released Bupivacaine Soft Tissue Infiltration in Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Trial

75 patients scheduled for total shoulder arthroplasty under an interscalene brachial plexus block were randomized to either receive or not receive additional intraoperative infiltration of liposomal bupivacaine within the periarticular soft tissues. Patients were assessed for narcotic consumption over the first 24 hours after surgery, and pain scores over the first 72 hours postoperatively. Results on total morphine equivalents in the first 24 hours demonstrated significantly higher consumption among patients administered the periarticular liposomal bupivacaine infiltration compared to those who were not. Pain scores did not significantly differ between groups at any time point up to 72 hours postoperatively.