Postoperative pain control after shoulder arthroscopy.

Successful postoperative pain management after arthroscopic shoulder surgery allows patients to go home earlier, decreases the potential for hospital readmission, and facilitates rehabilitation. Optimal pain control considers the physiological and psychological states of the patient, the resulting alterations due to the surgery, and the technical and economic resources available during recovery. A comprehensive approach to pain control should include preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative efforts. Efforts at postoperative pain reduction should begin preoperatively with the establishment of an excellent patient/physician relationship. Preoperative analgesia should be administered. Intraoperative efforts should include the administration of anesthetic medication intra-articularly. Postoperative management should include sleep medication, continuous cold-flow therapy, oral analgesics, and, if necessary, the use of narcotics.