ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Shoulder impingement is one of the most common orthopaedic arthropathies. A minimally invasive surgery is indicated in cases of persistent symptoms or non-responders to conservative pain therapy. Normally, strong postoperative pain of the shoulder requires an effective pain therapy. PATIENTS/MATERIAL AND METHODS: 100 patients suffering from shoulder impingement with involvement of the acromioclavicular joint (55 male, 45 female, mean age 56, age range 37-78 years) were operated in 2007 and 2008 in the department of orthopaedics of the LVR-hospital. We aimed to evaluate the value of a subacromial pain catheter with ropivacaine (n = 33) compared to a conservative pain therapy ("Würzburger Schmerztropf"/tramadol, novaminsulfon and metroclopramid and "Hettinger Infusion"/tramadol, novaminsulfon, dimenhydrinate as needed) alone (n = 34) or with an additional intraoperative administration of a single dose of ropivacaine (n = 33) after arthroscopic subacromial decompression of the shoulder with resection of the lateral clavicula. Additionally, patients of all three groups received a baseline analgesia with cryotherapy and diclofenac. RESULTS: Patients who received pain therapy by subacromial catheter reported less pain in the first 48 hours after surgery compared to ropivacaine intraoperatively and a standard pain therapy. Although all three methods achieved a significant pain reduction in the postoperative period, patients with subacromial catheter claimed the highest satisfaction with the therapy. Moreover, we could show that the subacromial pain catheter is a very efficient method with a high acceptance by the patients which is easy to perform and free of complications when considering the respective hygienic measures.
