Fig. 2

Postoperative numerical rating scale (NRS) pain scores of patients given regional anesthesia with infraclavicular nerve block (RA) or general anesthesia (GA) at rest (a) and during movement of the operated upper limb (b) at each recording time point. RR indicates on arrival to the post-anesthetic care unit; PO1hr = 1 h after surgery, PO2hr = 2 h after surgery; PO24hr = 24 h after surgery; PO48hr = 48 h after surgery; 3 and 6 months = 3 and 6 months after surgery. Solid circle represents GA; solid triangle represents RA. Values expressed in median [Interquartile range] * Significantly different at P ≤ 0.05. All differences in postoperative median NRS pain scores up to 48 h (at rest and with movement) remained statistically significant with adjusted P ≤ 0.05 even after post hoc adjustment with Bonferroni multiple comparisons