
Shoulder & Elbow
Brachial plexus blocks result in significantly less acute post-op pain scores and opioid consumption
Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.).2020;21(2):387-400.Brachial plexus blocks are commonly used in shoulder surgery to reduce patient discomfort and analgesic use. However, their true effectiveness compared to placebo has been debated. In this study, the authors randomized patients to an ultrasound guided liposomal bupivacaine brachial plexus block or placebo. Outcomes of interest were pain scores, opioid consumption, and patient satisfaction. A single injection of 133mg of Bupivacaine was found to significantly improve pain scores, reduce opioid consumption, and increase the proportion of opioid-free patients.
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