Combined Selective Nerve Blockade and Local Infiltration Analgesia in a Total Shoulder Arthroplasty Patient With Chronic Pain and Severe Restrictive Lung Disease: A Case Report

A A Case Rep. 2017 Dec 15;9(12):360-363. doi: 10.1213/XAA.0000000000000617.

Abstract

Interscalene brachial plexus block is considered the most complete postoperative analgesia after total shoulder arthroplasty. Interscalene brachial plexus block-induced ipsilateral hemidiaphragmatic paralysis may not be tolerated in patients with preexisting pulmonary disease. Selective distal nerve blocks avoid the risk of phrenic nerve block; however, they may provide incomplete analgesia to the glenohumeral joint. We report a case of combined selective suprascapular and axillary nerve blockade in combination with local infiltration analgesia in a patient with severe lung disease undergoing total shoulder arthroplasty. This case highlights the local infiltration analgesia technique of the shoulder joint and current diaphragm-sparing regional anesthesia blocks.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Anesthesia, Local*
  • Arthroplasty, Replacement, Shoulder / methods*
  • Chronic Pain / surgery*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Diseases / complications*
  • Nerve Block*
  • Pain, Postoperative / therapy*