Administration of analgesics after rotator cuff repair: a prospective clinical trial comparing glenohumeral, subacromial, and a combination of glenohumeral and subacromial injections

One hundred and twenty four patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair were enrolled in the study. Patients were randomized to receive an analgesic injection in the glenohumeral joint, the subacromial space, or in both locations simultaneously. The aim of the study was to assess whether the location of analgesic injection affected visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores up to 24 hours postoperatively. While significant within group pain improvement was seen, no differences were reported between the groups. Additionally, the need of rescue analgesia was also comparable between the two groups.