Intra Articular Pain Pump

Intra-articular Pain Pump

Arthroscopic shoulder surgery procedures are expanding in frequency and popularity. The advent of non-invasive surgery has made it possible to repair joints that have been injured or are simply worn from use. Other technology such as the intra-articular pain pump has made postoperative care a much simpler process.

However one of the complications that is concerning the professionals in the orthopedic field is the development of post-operative glenohumeral chondrolysis. This term describes a deterioration of the cartilage in the shoulder’s ball and socket joint, resulting in stiffness, chronic pain and reduced range of motion as the cushion separating ball from socket has been degraded.

Severe postarthroscopic glenohumeral chondrolysis can be a serious medical problem and has for some patients resulted in a surgical shoulder replacement. Many doctors are looking at the use of the intra-articular pain pump as a potential cause for this complication. The intra articular pain pump is designed to provide targeted doses of pain relief medicine – generally a narcotic – directly to the area that has been repaired. Months later, the deterioration of the shoulder cartilage begins to appear and continues to worsen.

The case study on this issue was introduced to the medical community in 2006. It showed a tolerable occurrence of chondrolysis among the entire study group of 152 patients. Of the 177 shoulders treated, only 12 developed chondrolysis. However all twelve of those had been treated with an intra-articular pain pump. Seven of the study group who had been treated with the pump had not developed the degenerative shoulder condition.

The correlation between intra-articular pain pumps and severe postoperative side effects has been strong enough to cause several product liability lawsuits to be filed. If you believe you’ve had troublesome symptoms following the use of a pain pump, let one of our professionals analyze your case to see if you are due compensation.