Mark & Associates, P.C. Attorneys At Law

Shoulder Pain Pump Injuries

A study published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine revealed that the use of intra-articular pain pump catheters after shoulder surgery appears to cause permanent cartilage damage. The condition, which is known as postarthroscopic glenohumeral chondrolysis or PAGCL is a life altering condition that is extremely painful and affects the use of the shoulder. An intra-articular pain pump catheter is a tiny, flexible plastic tube that is implanted in the shoulder joint during surgery. The pain pump stays in place for several days after surgery to deliver pain medication, usually bupivacaine with epinephrine) to the shoulder joint.

Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery

Intra-articular pain pump catheters are now commonly used after arthroscopic shoulder surgeries. This type of surgery uses a tiny camera and allows surgeons to perform the surgery by making two tiny incisions. One incision is made for the camera and the other for the surgical instruments. The surgeon performs the surgery by viewing images on a monitor attached to the camera.

Intra-Articular Pain Pumps

Post surgery, patients who underwent arthroscopic shoulder usually requires a regime of medication to manage their pain. Oral painkillers such as codeine and morphine are often prescribed, as well as anti-inflammatory drugs including ibuprofen and cox II inhibitors. However, these oral medications are often not enough to manage the post-surgical pain of arthroscopic shoulder surgery.  To better manage the pain, a disposable pain pump is often used to pump pain medication directly into the shoulder joint through a catheter. The pain pump is typically used for the first two to three days after surgery and is removed directly by the patient.

Postarthroscopic Glenohumeral Chondrolysis

New studies have revealed the use of the intra-articular pain pumps after shoulder can cause Postarthroscopic Glenohumeral Chondrolysis or PAGCL. This may occur because the concentration of pain medication pumped directly into the shoulder is too high.

Postarthroscopic Glenohumeral Chondrolysis destroys cartilage of the glenohumeral joint, the joint that joins the arm and shoulder. The head of the arm bone, which connects to the joint, is covered in articular cartilage, which allows the shoulder joint to move smoothly. If this cartilage is damaged or destroyed the shoulder cannot move easily resulting in significant pain and reduced range of motion.

If you’ve had arthroscopic shoulder surgery and are experiencing any of the following symptoms you should contact your doctor immediately:

• Continued shoulder pain
• Decreased range of motion
• Clicking, popping, or grinding
• Shoulder weakness

Legal Help is Available

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Postarthroscopic Glenohumeral Chondrolysis you may have valuable legal rights. Please contact Mark & Associates, P.C. today to have your case evaluated for free by an experienced defective medical device attorney. You can request a free case evaluation by completing an evaluation request on the right side of this page or by calling 1-866-50-RIGHTS (1-866-507-4448).