Shoulder Pain Pump: Canadian Patients May Have PAGCL

Toronto, ONGiven that not many people in the US know about the risk of injury associated with shoulder pain pumps, it seems reasonable that not many people in Canada would know about that risk either. However, there is a very real risk of a serious side effect likely caused by using a shoulder pain pump after arthroscopic surgery. That risk is Postarthroscopic Glenohumeral Chondrolysis (PAGCL).

PAGCL is a very painful condition in which the shoulder's cartilage wears down, making even simple shoulder movements extremely painful. As the cartilage breaks down, the arm bone and shoulder socket rub together, causing damage to the bone. There is no cure for PAGCL and many patients who develop it eventually require shoulder replacement surgery.

A recent study suggests that patients using the shoulder pain pumps may be receiving too much medicine, which is causing the cartilage in their shoulder to break down. One study showed that of 152 patients who had arthroscopic surgery, 12 developed PAGCL. All 12 patients used a shoulder pain pump that delivered bupivacaine and epinephrine to the surgery site. In fact that was the only factor that all the patients who developed PAGCL had in common.

Dr. Charles Beck, a surgeon who co-authored the study says the high number of people who developed PAGCL concerned him and he decided to investigate why these people were developing such a rare condition. He says that 63 percent of patients who used a shoulder pain pump developed PAGCL. The study resulted in the conclusion that the use of intra-articular pain pump catheters that deliver buipivacaine and epinephrine appear highly associated with PAGCL.

Dr. Beck says he has stopped using the shoulder pain pump after arthroscopic surgery until the link between the pumps and PAGCL is better understood. In the meantime he is also urging other surgeons to not use the pain pumps.

Because so little is known or understood about PAGCL and shoulder pain pumps, some Canadian patients may assume that the pain they are feeling following their surgery is routine. However, if they have used a shoulder pain pump they may be experiencing the onset of PAGCL. Even healthy, active people can develop the condition.

Personal injury lawsuits have been filed in the US against companies that are involved in the manufacturing, marketing or distributing of shoulder pain pumps. Such companies include Stryker, I-Flow Inc., and BREG Inc.

If you have had arthroscopic shoulder surgery and experience stiffness in the shoulder, arm immobility or unusual sensations in the shoulder such as popping, grinding or clicking, seek medical attention to determine if you have developed PAGCL. PAGCL generally occurs in the months following shoulder arthroscopy.