Scientific evidence now suggests that shoulder pain pumps temporarily implanted in the joint during surgery may be linked to serious shoulder injuries. The painful resulting condition is known as Postarthroscopic Glenohumeral Chondrolysis (PAGCL).
These pain pumps are small, portable devices that inject pain relief medication through a catheter in the area where the surgery was performed. Unfortunately, when the catheter is inserted in the joint space instead of muscle tissue, it can kill cartilage crucial to keeping bones in the shoulder separate. The result is cartilage destruction resulting in painful bone-on-bone contact.
A study in the American Journal of Sports Medicine states that there is a high correlation between the use of intra-articular pain pump catheters (catheters inserted into the joint) and the development of PAGCL. The study showed that 63 percent of shoulder surgery patients treated with a pain pump administering bupivacaine and epinephrine into the shoulder joint developed PAGCL.
PAGCL is a disabling, painful condition that is irreversible and permanent, often requiring further shoulder surgery. It is often diagnosed months after the initial surgery.
PAGCL treatment may include pain medication, physical therapy and cortisone injections. In severe cases, it may require surgery for partial or complete shoulder joint replacements. Even with medication and surgery, many PAGCL patients continue to experience pain and decreased mobility.
Critics of the pain pumps allege that manufacturers of the devices failed to inform orthopedic surgeons that the federal Food and Drug Administration denied approval of the pumps for intra-articular use. These manufacturers include Stryker, I-Flow Corp., DJO Inc., DePuy, Inc. and Smith & Nephew, Inc. Lawsuits against shoulder pain pump manufacturers are moving forward across the nation.
