Rehabilitation with Continuous Postoperative Brachial Plexus Block after Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair

Abstract

Pain after rotator cuff repair is one of the major factors preventing the expansion of joint motion range during postoperative rehabilitation, and thus early expansion of joint motion range is largely affected by postoperative pain control. In this study, we examined the analgesic effects of continuous postoperative brachial plexus block (0.1% ropivacaine, 6 ml/h) and the postoperative range of joint motion in 15 patients who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. The median VAS was 2.3 cm at rest on the day after surgery, and 4.4 cm at the maximum elevation of the shoulder joint, which decreased thereafter. Passive joint motion range of 120° was achieved on postoperative days (POD) 6.8. The passive joint motion range was 140° on POD 10, and the spontaneous joint motion range was 136° on POD 90. Continuous brachial plexus block decreased postoperative pain, enabling expansion of the range of joint motion.