The efficacy and safety of interscalene blockade versus local infiltration analgesia in primary total shoulder arthroplasty?: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND: None of review has been conducted to compare the efficacy of interscalene blockade (ISB) with that of local infiltration analgesia (LIA) in patients undergoing total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). We thus conduct a high-quality meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to investigate which analgesic provides better pain relief. METHODS: A comprehensive search of the published literature in PUBMED, Scopus, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases will be performed. Only RCTs evaluating LIA versus ISB in TSA are included in this study. The primary outcome was pain score. Secondary outcome measures included opioid consumption, postoperative adverse event, and length of stay. The Cochrane risk of bias tool is used to evaluate the risk of bias of included RCTs by 2 independent reviewers. RESULTS: The results of this research will be delivered in a peer-reviewed journal. CONCLUSIONS: This study expects to provide credible and scientific evidence for the efficacy and safety of ISB and LIA for early postoperative pain control after TSA. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION NUMBER: 10.17605/OSF.IO/S3MBP. ETHICAL APPROVAL: Since this study is on the basis of published or registered RCTs, ethical approval and informed consent of patients are not required.