WardBlackLaw, protecting people's right

Janet Ward Black, Attorney at Law

Intra-articular Pain Pump

Recent studies have determined that severe cartilage damage known as Postarthroscopic Glenohumeral Chrondrolysis (PAGCL) is linked to intra-articular pain pumps.  This is a devastating condition causing severe pain and requiring constant medication. Joint replacement surgery may ultimately be required.
 
A shoulder pain pump is a small device developed to deliver pain medication directly into the shoulder joint after arthroscopic joint surgery.  In the 1990s the devices were changed to inject a higher flow of the pain medications opposed to a low flow.  Usually  
bupivacaine with epinephrine is the medication injected.

In 2007 the American Journal of Sports Medicine linked the diagnosis of PAGCL to the use of shoulder pain pumps such as I-Flow, Stryker and BERG.  This condition typically surfaces several months to a year or more after arthroscopic surgery where the pain pumps were utilized.  Additional studies are underway to confirm these findings.

If you or a loved one is suffering after undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery and a pain pump was used immediately following surgery, please contact our office at 1-800-531-9191 for a free consultation or contact us via email.

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