A prospective randomized controlled trial to identify the optimal postoperative pain management in shoulder arthroplasty: liposomal bupivacaine versus continuous interscalene catheter

70 patients scheduled for shoulder arthroplasty were randomized to postoperative analgesia through either the use of a preoperative single-shot interscalene block followed by intraoperative liposomal bupivacaine injection, or continuous interscalene block postoperatively. Primary outcomes were pain scores and narcotic consumption over the first 24 hours postoperatively. Though no significant differences in pain scores were observed at 2 hours intervals out to 24 hours after surgery, as well as opioid use from 0-6 hours, 6-12 hours, or 12-18 hours, narcotic consumption at 18-24 hours was significantly greater among patients managed with a preoperative single-shot interscalene block followed by intraoperative liposomal bupivacaine injection.