Abstract:Objective To investigate the effects of interscalene brachial plexus block with liposomal bupivacaine on postoperative analgesia and early functional recovery in patients undergoing shoulder arthroscopy under general anesthesia.Methods A total of 96 patients scheduled for shoulder arthroscopy under general anesthesia at The Affiliated Huai'an Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from June 2024 to April 2025 were selected. They were divided into a control group (n = 48, ropivacaine hydrochloride) and an observation group (n = 48, liposomal bupivacaine). Surgical parameters, hemodynamics, pain scores, early recovery indicators, inflammatory markers, stress responses, and adverse events were compared between groups.Results No significant differences were observed in operative duration or length of hospital stay between the two groups (P > 0.05). The HR and MAP were compared between the observation and control groups at entry to the operating room, end of surgery, and 30 minutes postoperatively. The results revealed that significant differences in HR and MAP were observed across the different time points (P < 0.05) and between the observation and control groups at each time point (P < 0.05), with lower HR and higher MAP in the observation group. The change trends of HR and MAP over time differed significantly between the two groups (P < 0.05). Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores at rest in the two groups were compared at 1, 6, 12, and 48 hours postoperatively, which demonstrated that they were different across time points (P < 0.05) and between the groups (P < 0.05), with lower VAS scores in the observation group, indicating superior analgesic efficacy. The change trends of VAS scores over time also differed significantly between the groups (P < 0.05). The differences in pre- and postoperative QoR-15 scores, forward flexion range of motion, and abduction range of motion were greater in the observation group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Conversely, the changes in IL-6, CRP, MDA, and SOD levels were smaller in the observation group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in the overall incidence of adverse events between the two groups (P > 0.05).Conclusion Interscalene brachial plexus block with liposomal bupivacaine enhances postoperative analgesia, promotes early functional recovery, and reduces inflammatory responses in patients undergoing shoulder arthroscopy under general anesthesia without compromising safety, demonstrating significant clinical value.