Postarthroscopic glenohumeral chondrolysis (PAGCL) describes a degeneration of cartilage in the glenohumeral joint occurring after arthroscopic surgery on the shoulder.
Clinical features:
(1) history of arthroscopic surgery on a shoulder
(2) one or both of the following:
(2a) thermal capsulorrhaphy
(2b) history of using an intra-articular pain pump for post-operative pain control, especially if epinephrine was added or the pump was used for > 48 hours
(3) onset of worsening symptoms affecting the shoulder weeks to months after the surgery
(4) degeneration of the articular cartilage
(5) exclusion of other causes (infection, bursitis, etc).
where:
• The addition of epinephrine was associated with low pH (<= 4).
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