Cervical epidural anaesthesia for shoulder arthroscopy and effective postoperative physiotherapy for a frozen shoulder: a case study

Abstract

Shoulder arthroscopy is used to treat various diseases of the shoulder, including refractory adhesive capsulitis. Effective postoperative pain relief is critical for these patients, as the success of surgery largely depends on early and regular physiotherapy. Although traditionally, various methods of postoperative analgesia have been described, each has its own disadvantages. We report a case of adhesive capsulitis, for which arthroscopic capsular release was carried out under cervical epidural anaesthesia with general anaesthesia, resulting in excellent intraoperative and postoperative analgesia, with a better patient compliance for physiotherapy, and a significant improvement in the range of movement at the shoulder joint.