Randomized, controlled trial of multimodal shoulder injection or intravenous patient-controlled analgesia after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair

70 patients with full thickness rotator cuff tears undergoing arthroscopic repair were randomized to compare the postoperative analgesic effect of multimodal shoulder injection to intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV PCA). Participants were allocated to one of the described postoperative analgesia methods, and were assessed during the first 48 hours after surgery. Pain in the first 2 hours was significantly reduced in the multimodal shoulder injection group comparatively, and was similar to the IV PCA group thereafter. However, the use of rescue analgesics was more often needed in the multimodal shoulder injection group during 12-48 hours post-surgery. Overall patient satisfaction was similar between the two groups. Additionally, multimodal shoulder injection was associated with reduced postoperative nausea, and cost less per patient than IV PCA.