Hye Jung Choo MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Sun Joo Lee MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Janghee Lee MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Youngjin Heo MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Yoon Nae Seo MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hyun Sin In, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To prospectively evaluate whether the additional intraarticular anesthetic during shoulder MR or CT arthrography can reduce the arthrography-related pain and in which conditions the additional anesthetic injection is more effective.

The study was approved by institutional review board. Informed consent was obtained. From May 2011 to March 2012, 120 patients who were scheduled to undergo CT or MR arthrography of the shoulder were enrolled. The patients randomized into two groups. The first group (60 patients) received intraarticular injection of the contrast materials mixed with the local anesthetic (mepivacaine 2%). The second group (60 patients) received intraarticular injection without mixture of the local anesthetic. Pain level was scored at baseline, immediately, 2 hours, 1 day and 2 days after injection with a visual analog scale. Net pain score was calculated by subtracting the baseline pain level from the pain level on each time. By using repeated measured analysis of variance, whether the net pain score between the two groups was different was evaluated. After stratifying the patients according to sex, age (<55 years vs. 55 years), baseline pain level (3 vs. >3), imaging modality of the shoulder arthrography (CT vs. MR), and presence or absence of rotator cuff tears, labral tears, previous history of shoulder surgery, and history of trauma-related to the shoulder problem, the effectiveness of additional anesthetic injection on each subgroup was also evaluated in same way.

There was no significant difference of the net pain score between the two groups. No conditions such as presence of rotator cuff tears, labral tears enhanced the effectiveness of the addition of a local anesthetic.

The additional use of a local anesthetic to the contrast material solution for CT or MR arthrography of the shoulder did not reduce the arthrography-related pain.

The additional use of a local anesthetic (mepivacaine 2%) to the contrast material solution for CT or MR arthrography of the shoulder cannot reduce the arthrography-related pain.

Choo, H, Lee, S, Lee, J, Heo, Y, Seo, Y, In, H, Effectiveness of Additional Intraarticular Anesthetic during MR or CT Arthrography of the Shoulder.  Radiological Society of North America 2012 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2012 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2012/12031264.html