Comparison of Perioperative Pain Management between Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair and Total Knee and Hip Arthroplasty

Abstract

Background Although postoperative shoulder pain surgery is severe, the quality of its management has not been studied in comparison with pain after other orthopedic surgeries. Furthermore, reports have investigated daytime pain, but none have discussed nighttime pain. Objective This study aimed to compare perioperative pain management in patients who underwent Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair (ARCR) and those who underwent lower extremity arthroplasty. Methods The study population included 33 patients who underwent ARCR and 21 patients who underwent lower-extremity arthroplasty between August 2015 and March 2016. For postoperative analgesia, an interscalene brachial plexus block was used for ARCR, and an epidural block was used for lower extremity arthroplasty. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for rest and night pain was measured from the day before the operation to the fourth postoperative day. Results In ARCR, night pain was significantly weaker on the day of surgery (VAS, ARCR 23.9 vs. lower extremity arthroplasty 47.9; P = 0.008); however, it was significantly stronger on the second and third postoperative days (2nd, 45.6 vs. 23.2; P = 0.002 / 3rd, 38.1 vs. 23.5; P = 0.021). There were no significant differences in rest pain. Conclusion It was confirmed that postoperative pain can be well managed in patients undergoing ARCR. However, because the pain worsened after the removal of the block, further improvement is required.