In this video, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Don Buford discusses a previous anesthesia complication with a patient who is preparing for right shoulder surgery to repair a SLAP lesion and a rotator cuff tear.
Because the patient previously underwent rotator cuff surgery on his left shoulder, he shares his experience with an interscalene nerve block administered during that procedure. While the nerve block initially worked well and his surgical pain subsided after two days, he subsequently developed a prolonged neurological complication.
The patient describes experiencing a persistent "asleep" feeling, numbness, and tingling across multiple areas of his left arm, including:
- The outside of his arm
- Most of his forearm
- His middle, ring, and pinky fingers
- A significant portion of his palm
This complication lasted for approximately six months. His previous surgical team did not prescribe any specific medications or interventions, reassuring him that the issue would eventually resolve on its own and noting that while uncommon, such nerve issues are not unheard of.
The patient expresses that the extended period of numbness was highly uncomfortable and causing him anxiety, prompting him to request alternative anesthesia options from Dr. Buford to avoid going through the same experience during his upcoming right shoulder surgery.
