Single-injection femoral nerve block with 0.25% ropivacaine or 0.25% bupivacaine for postoperative analgesia after total knee replacement or anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Network meta-analysis of the analgesic effectiveness of regional anaesthesia techniques for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction can cause moderate to severe acute postoperative pain. Despite advances in our understanding of knee innervation, consensus regarding the most effective regional anaesthesia techniques for this surgical population is lacking. This network meta-analysis compared effectiveness of regional anaesthesia techniques used to provide analgesia for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Randomised trials examining regional anaesthesia techniques for analgesia following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction were sought. The primary outcome was opioid consumption during the first 24 h postoperatively. Secondary outcomes were: rest pain at 0, 6, 12 and 24 h; area under the curve of pain over 24 h; and opioid-related adverse effects and functional recovery. Network meta-analysis was conducted using a frequentist approach. A total of 57 trials (4069 patients) investigating femoral nerve block, sciatic nerve block, adductor canal block, local anaesthetic infiltration, graft-donor site infiltration and systemic analgesia alone (control) were included. For opioid consumption, all regional anaesthesia techniques were superior to systemic analgesia alone, but differences between regional techniques were not significant. Single-injection femoral nerve block combined with sciatic nerve block had the highest p value probability for reducing postoperative opioid consumption and area under the curve for pain severity over 24 h (78% and 90%, respectively). Continuous femoral nerve block had the highest probability (87%) of reducing opioid-related adverse effects, while local infiltration analgesia had the highest probability (88%) of optimising functional recovery. In contrast, systemic analgesia, local infiltration analgesia and adductor canal block were each poor performers across all analgesic outcomes. Regional anaesthesia techniques that target both the femoral and sciatic nerve distributions, namely a combination of single-injection nerve blocks, provide the most consistent analgesic benefits for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction compared with all other techniques but will most likely impair postoperative function. Importantly, adductor canal block, local infiltration analgesia and systemic analgesia alone each perform poorly for acute pain management following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

The Median Effective Analgesic Concentration of Ropivacaine in Sciatic Nerve Block Guided by Ultrasound After Arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Double-Blind Up-Down Concentration-Finding Study

Background

The median effective analgesic concentration (MEAC; EC50 = effective concentration in 50% patients) of ropivacaine in sciatic nerve block guided by ultrasound (US) required for effective postoperative analgesia following arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction has not yet been found. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of MEAC of 20 ml ropivacaine of postoperative anesthesia for patients after ACL reconstruction.

Methods

In total, 29 patients who underwent elective arthroscopic ACL reconstruction were enrolled in this study. All the subjects were given 20 ml of 0.2% ropivacaine for femoral nerve block. A concentration of 20 ml ropivacaine administered to the sciatic nerve was measured by applying the up-and-down sequential method (UDM). The starting concentration was 0.2% in the first patient, and the next patient received decremented 0.025% ropivacaine if the prior patient's postoperative visual analog pain score was <4 in the initial 8 h. Otherwise, the participant was given an incremental dose of 0.025% ropivacaine. The EC50 of ropivacaine was determined by using centered isotonic, linear-logarithmic, exponential regressions, and linear regression. The “goodness of fit” was compared among various models by calculating the residual standard errors.

Results

The concentration of ropivacaine administered ranged from 0.1 to 0.2%. The EC50 [95% confidence interval (CI)] determined by four statistical methods (centered isotonic, exponential regressions, linear-logarithmic, and linear regression) was 0.115, 0.113% (0.108, 0.343%), 0.142% (0.112, 0.347%), and 0.129% (0.103, 0.359%), respectively. Among all models, the residual standard error was the smallest for the exponential regression (0.2243).

Conclusion

The EC50 of ropivacaine in US-guided sciatic nerve block was 0.113–0.142%, and exponential regression model best matched the data.

Effectiveness of continuous femoral nerve block for pain relief after total knee arthroplasty: comparison with epidural patient-controlled analgesia and periarticular injection

OBJECTIVE

To compare the clinical outcomes among three analgesic techniques, continuous femoral nerve block (CFNB), epidural patient-controlled analgesia (EPCA) and periarticular injection (PAI), in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

METHODS

This retrospective case-control study enrolled patients that underwent TKA. Visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores, sleep disturbance, additional opioid consumption and incidence of opioid-related side-effects were assessed.

RESULTS

A total of 120 patients were categorized into three groups: EPCA (group A, n = 40), PAI (group B, n = 40) and CFNB (group C, n = 40). Group C had significantly lower VAS pain scores than groups A and B at 8, 12 and 24 h after TKA. There were no significant differences in VAS pain scores among the three groups from 48 h after TKA. Sleep quality on the first day after surgery was significantly better in group C than in groups A and B. Additional opioid consumption was significantly lower in the group C than in the groups A and B. Group C showed a lower rate of opioid-related side-effects than groups A and B.

CONCLUSION

CFNB was a more effective additional analgesic technique than EPCA or PAI for acute postoperative pain control within 24 h of TKA.

Most Analgesia Treatments Have No Clinical Significance for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Network Meta-analysis of 66 Randomized Controlled Trials

PURPOSE

To assess the relative efficacy of several clinical treatments for postoperative analgesia of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction through network meta-analysis based on multiple published randomized controlled trials.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, the Cochrane library, EMBASE, and Web of Science, each from inception until February 15, 2021. Outcomes including pain scores at rest (visual analog scale, numerical rating scales, and other scales, which were converted to a standardized 0-10 scale), morphine consumption, and complications were meta-analyzed. Quality of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. The authors defined the best choice for postoperative analgesia as the one that had significant difference in pain scores, morphine consumption, and had no significant difference in the risk of complications compared with placebo in the initial 48 postoperative hours.

RESULTS

In total, 66 studies with 4,168 patients were included in this network meta-analysis. Only periarticular infiltration was significantly superior to placebo in pain scores and morphine consumption (pain at 2 hours: mean difference [MD] -0.74, 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.36 to -0.12; pain at 6 hours: MD -0.81, 95% CI -1.42 to -0.21; pain at 12 hours: MD -0.85, 95% CI -1.53 to -0.17; pain at 24 hours: MD -0.80, 95% CI -1.19 to -0.40; morphine consumption at 24 hours: MD -10.12, 95% CI -14.31 to -5.93; morphine consumption at 48 hours: MD -5.62, 95% CI -6.74 to -4.51). Periarticular infiltration did not increase the risk of complications compared with placebo (nausea and vomiting: odds ratio [OR] 0.63, 95% CI 0.34-1.16; pruritus: OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.35-1.58; urinary retention: OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.25-1.23). In addition, There was no significant difference between adductor canal block and femoral nerve block in pain scores and morphine consumption (pain at 2 hours: MD -0.01, 95% CI -1.44 to 1.42; pain at 6 hours: MD 0.29, 95% CI -0.28 to 0.86; pain at 12 hours: MD 0.36, 95% CI -0.44 to 1.16; pain at 24 hours: MD 0.26, 95% CI -0.22 to 0.75; pain at 48 hours: MD -0.36, 95% CI -0.97 to 0.24; morphine at 24 hours: MD 1.04, 95% CI -4.70 to 6.79; morphine at 48 hours: MD -0.32, 95% CI -0.70 to 0.07; postoperative nausea and vomiting: OR 1.07, 95% CI 0.55-2.09; pruritus: OR 1.36, 95% CI 0.66-2.79; urinary retention: OR 1.41, 95% CI 0.37-5.29).

CONCLUSIONS

Based on current evidence, most analgesic methods could result in lower pain scores and decrease morphine consumption when compared with placebo; however, differences between methods were small and inconsistent. There seemed to be no significant difference between adductor canal block and femoral nerve block in pain score, morphine consumption and complications.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level I, meta-analysis of Level I RCTs.

A guide to regional analgesia for Total Knee Arthroplasty

Regional analgesia has been introduced successfully into the postoperative pain management after total knee arthroplasty, reducing pain scores, opioid use and adverse effects.

Combination of regional analgesia techniques is associated with better pain management and lower side effects than single regional techniques.

Adductor canal block provides good analgesia and considerably lower detrimental effect in muscular strength than femoral nerve block, enhancing surgical recovery.

Infiltration techniques may have equivalent analgesic effect than epidural analgesia and peripheral nerve blocks, however there should be awareness of dose dependent toxicity.

Novel long-acting local anesthetics role for regional analgesia is still to be determined, and will require larger randomized trials to support its advantage over traditional local anesthetics.

Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2021;6:1181-1192. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.6.210045

An in vivo study comparing efficacy of 0.25% and 0.5% bupivacaine in infraorbital nerve block for postoperative analgesia

Background

Pain is an unpleasant sensation ranging from mild localized discomfort to agony and is one of the most commonly experienced symptoms in oral surgery. Usually, local anesthetic agents and analgesics are used for pain control in oral surgical procedures. Local anesthetic agents including lignocaine and bupivacaine are routinely used in varying concentrations. The present study was designed to evaluate and compare the efficacy of 0.25% and 0.5% bupivacaine for postoperative analgesia in infraorbital nerve block.

Methods

Forty-one patients undergoing bilateral maxillary orthodontic extraction received 0.5% bupivacaine (n = 41) on one side and 0.25% bupivacaine (n = 41) on the other side at an interval of 7 d. The parameters evaluated for both the bupivacaine concentrations were onset of action, pain during procedure (visual analog scale score [VAS]), and duration of action. The results were noted, tabulated, and analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test.

Results

The onset of action of 0.5% bupivacaine was quicker than that of 0.25% bupivacaine, but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.306). No significant difference was found between the solutions for VAS scores (P = 0.221) scores and duration of action (P = 0.662).

Conclusion

There was no significant difference between 0.25% bupivacaine and 0.5% bupivacaine in terms of onset of action, pain during procedure, and duration of action. The use of 0.25% bupivacaine is recommended.

WITHDRAWN: Peripheral nerve blocks for postoperative pain after major knee surgery

BACKGROUND

Major knee surgery is a common operative procedure to help people with end-stage knee disease or trauma to regain mobility and have improved quality of life. Poorly controlled pain immediately after surgery is still a key issue for this procedure. Peripheral nerve blocks are localized and site-specific analgesic options for major knee surgery. The increasing use of peripheral nerve blocks following major knee surgery requires the synthesis of evidence to evaluate its effectiveness and safety, when compared with systemic, local infiltration, epidural and spinal analgesia.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the efficacy and safety of peripheral nerve blocks for postoperative pain control following major knee surgery using methods that permit comparison with systemic, local infiltration, epidural and spinal analgesia.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (Issue 1, 2014), MEDLINE and EMBASE, from their inception to February 2014. We identified ongoing studies by searching trial registries, including the metaRegister of controlled trials (mRCT), clinicaltrials.gov and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP).

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included participant-blind, randomized controlled trials of adult participants (15 years or older) undergoing major knee surgery, in which peripheral nerve blocks were compared to systemic, local infiltration, epidural and spinal analgesia for postoperative pain relief.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently assessed study eligibility and extracted data. We recorded information on participants, methods, interventions, outcomes (pain intensity, additional analgesic consumption, adverse events, knee range of motion, length of hospital stay, hospital costs, and participant satisfaction). We used the 5-point Oxford quality and validity scale to assess methodological quality, as well as criteria outlined in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. We conducted meta-analysis of two or more studies with sufficient data to investigate the same outcome. We used the I² statistic to explore the heterogeneity. If there was no significant heterogeneity (I² value 0% to 40%), we used a fixed-effect model for meta-analysis, but otherwise we used a random-effects model. For dichotomous data, we present results as a summary risk ratio (RR) and a 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Where possible, we calculated the number needed to treat for an additional beneficial outcome (NNTB) or for an additional harmful outcome (NNTH), together with 95% CIs. For continuous data, we used the mean difference (MD) and 95% CI for similar outcome measures. We describe the findings of individual studies where pooling of data was not possible.

MAIN RESULTS

According to the eligibility criteria, we include 23 studies with 1571 participants, with high methodological quality overall. The studies compared peripheral nerve blocks adjunctive to systemic analgesia with systemic analgesia alone (19 studies), peripheral nerve blocks with local infiltration (three studies), and peripheral nerve blocks with epidural analgesia (one study). No study compared peripheral nerve blocks with spinal analgesia.Compared with systemic analgesia alone, peripheral nerve blocks adjunctive to systemic analgesia resulted in a significantly lower pain intensity score at rest, using a 100 mm visual analogue scale, at all time periods within 72 hours postoperatively, including the zero to 23 hours interval (MD -11.85, 95% CI -20.45 to -3.25, seven studies, 390 participants), the 24 to 47 hours interval (MD -12.92, 95% CI -19.82 to -6.02, six studies, 320 participants) and the 48 to 72 hours interval (MD -9.72, 95% CI -16.75 to -2.70, four studies, 210 participants). Subgroup analyses suggested that the high levels of statistical variation in our analyses could be explained by larger effects in people undergoing total knee arthroplasty compared with other types of surgery. Pain intensity was also significantly reduced on movement in the 48 to 72 hours interval postoperatively (MD -6.19, 95% CI -11.76 to -0.62, two studies, 112 participants). There was no significant difference on movement between these two groups in the time period of zero to 23 hours (MD -6.95, 95% CI -15.92 to 2.01, five studies, 304 participants) and 24 to 47 hours (MD -8.87, 95% CI -27.77 to 10.03, three studies, 182 participants). The included studies reported diverse types of adverse events, and we did not conduct a meta-analysis on specific types of adverse event. The numbers of studies and participants were also too few to draw conclusions on the other prespecified outcomes of: additional analgesic consumption; median time to remedication; knee range of motion; median time to ambulation; length of hospital stay; hospital costs; and participant satisfaction. There were insufficient data to compare peripheral nerve blocks and local infiltration or between peripheral nerve blocks and epidural analgesia.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

All of the included studies reported the main outcome of pain intensity but did not cover all the secondary outcomes of interest. The current review provides evidence that the use of peripheral nerve blocks as adjunctive techniques to systemic analgesia reduced pain intensity when compared with systemic analgesia alone after major knee surgery. There were too few data to draw conclusions on other outcomes of interest. More trials are needed to demonstrate a significant difference when compared with local infiltration, epidural analgesia and spinal analgesia.

Short-term Outcomes in Pediatric Patients Managed with Peripheral Nerve Blockade for Arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction and/or Meniscus Surgeries

Introduction

Peripheral nerve blockade (PNB) can be a useful component of a multimodal analgesia approach in managing pain after knee arthroscopy. However, the impact of PNB and short-term recovery in pediatric patients, particularly adolescents, who underwent knee arthroscopy for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and/or meniscus surgery (repair or resection) has not been well characterized. This prospective study presents observational data on short-term patient outcomes and side effects for 72 hours following discharging home of pediatric patients who underwent arthroscopic ACL and/or meniscus procedures with PNB.

Methods

This is a single-center, single-surgeon prospective observational study conducted over a three-year period. We characterized 72-hour postoperative outcomes including pain scores, return of sensation to the affected limb, analgesic use [nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioids], readmission rate, and activities of daily living (ADL) via telephone survey. In addition, retrospective chart review was conducted to obtain perioperative and anesthesia details. Results for surgery groups were analyzed using descriptive and Pearson correlations using the SPSS version 24 (IBM Corp. Released 2016. IBM SPSS Statistics for Mac, Version 24.0. Armonk, NY, USA).

Results

We collected data on 47 patients undergoing ACL reconstruction with or without meniscus surgery (18/47, 38.3%) or meniscus surgery only (29/47, 61.7%). At 72 hours postsurgery, there were no readmissions or complications related to pain. Median-reported pain scores were 2.5 and 5.0 for the ACL and meniscus groups, respectively. A majority of patients continued to require opioids (45/47, 95.7%) and NSAIDs (46/47, 97.9%) at 72 hours postsurgery, but the number of daily opioid doses taken decreased with each day postoperatively. Over 93% of the patients could ambulate and shower at 72 hours postsurgery.

Conclusions

Regional nerve block appears to be an effective and safe analgesic strategy for pediatric arthroscopic ACL and meniscus procedures, with no short-term complications or readmissions related to pain in our cohort. Future prospective investigation is needed to characterize long-term pain outcomes in this surgical population.

Postoperative Ultrasound Guided Continuous Femoral Nerve Blockade for Unilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Comparison of 0.125% Bupivacaine and 0.2% Ropivacaine

CONTEXT

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is associated with severe postoperative pain which increases morbidity and mortality.

AIMS

The aim of the study was to compare the analgesic efficacy and motor blockade of continuous infusion of 0.125% bupivacaine and 0.2% ropivacaine in femoral nerve block following unilateral TKA and to assess the effectiveness of femoral nerve block.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

One hundred and fifty patients undergoing unilateral total knee replacement surgery were included in this prospective observational comparative study.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Patients are divided into two groups of 75 each. Femoral nerve catheter was placed at the end of surgery using ultrasound. Postoperative analgesia and motor blockade were compared for the next 24 h using visual analog scale (VAS) score, additional analgesic requirement, and Bromage scale.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Student's t-test and Chi-square test were applied.

RESULTS

There was no statistically significant difference in pain between the two groups though VAS score (during rest and movement) and opioid consumption were lower in bupivacaine group. Nearly 28.6% patients experienced pain and required additional analgesics. Seventy-two percent among them complained of pain in the popliteal region supplied by sciatic nerve. Eight patients excluded from the study also had pain in the popliteal fossa. There was a statistically significant difference in motor blockade between the two groups at 12, 18, and 24 h after starting infusion. Bupivacaine group had a higher percentage of type three blocks compared to ropivacaine group.

CONCLUSION

Continuous femoral nerve block (CFNB) with 0.125% bupivacaine infusion provided better analgesia with denser motor blockade compared to 0.2% ropivacaine infusion. CFNB alone is not sufficient to provide adequate analgesia following unilateral TKA.

Relieving Pain After Arthroscopic Knee Surgery: Ultrasound-Guided Femoral Nerve Block or Adductor Canal Block?

OBJECTIVE

To compare the analgesic effects of femoral nerve block (FNB) and adductor canal block (ACB) after arthroscopic knee surgery.

METHODS

This was a prospective randomised clinical trial that enrolled 92 patients undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery. Ultrasound-guided FNB or ACB was performed immediately after surgery for pain relief. Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores and modified sedation-agitation scale (SAS) were recorded and analysed immediately following block and at 3, 6, 12 and 24 hours. The satisfaction level was also evaluated using a Likert-based patient questionnaire.

RESULTS

VAS scores decreased to 4.1±0.8 from 5.6±1.2 immediately after any nerve block, and within 3 hours, they continued to decrease to 2.0±0.6 in the FNB group and 3.4±1.0 in the ACB group (P=0.014). More patients in the FNB group were satisfied with the quality of the pain control compared to the ACB group. Additionally, patients in the ACB group required more supplemental analgesia compared to the FNB group.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that patients with FNB had denser analgesia after arthroscopic knee surgery and had less analgesic requirement compared with ACB. Greater satisfaction scores also reflected superior analgesia in patients receiving FNB.

Liposomal Bupivacaine Versus Femoral Nerve Block for Pain Control After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Prospective Randomized Trial

PURPOSE

To compare femoral nerve block (FNB) versus local liposomal bupivacaine (LB) for pain control in patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.

METHODS

Eighty-five patients undergoing primary ACL reconstruction were assessed for participation. We performed a prospective randomized trial in accordance with the CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) 2010 statement. The study arms included either intraoperative local infiltration of LB (20 mL of bupivacaine/10 mL of saline solution) or preoperative FNB with a primary outcome of postoperative pain levels (visual analog scale) for 4 days. Secondary outcomes assessed included opioid consumption (intravenous morphine equivalents), hours slept, patient satisfaction, and calls to the physician. Randomization was by a computerized algorithm. The observer was blinded and the patient was not blinded to the intervention.

RESULTS

One patient declined participation; 2 patients were excluded after randomization. A total of 82 patients were analyzed. Outcomes showed a significant increase in pain in the LB group between 5 and 8 hours postoperatively (mean ± standard deviation, 6.3 ± 2.0 versus 4.8 ± 2.6; P = .01). There were no significant differences between the groups in mean daily pain levels, morphine equivalents, or patient satisfaction when we controlled for graft type, age, body mass index, and sex. Patients receiving an FNB had a nonsignificant increase in number of sleep disturbances on the day of surgery (mean ± standard deviation, 4.4 ± 3.7 v 3.1 ± 2.1; P = .09) and were more likely to call their doctor the following day because of pain (29% v 8%, P = .04). Six patients in the FNB group had either prolonged quadriceps inhibition or sensory disturbance. One patient in the LB group required reoperation for a flexion contracture.

CONCLUSIONS

An increase in acute postoperative pain was found with LB compared with FNB for post-ACL reconstruction pain control. After the acute postoperative period, there were no significant differences in opioid consumption or pain control. The occurrence of nerve irritation postoperatively was found to be higher in the FNB group.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level I, prospective randomized trial.

Efficacy of magnesium as an adjuvant to bupivacaine in 3-in-1 nerve block for arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament repair

Background and Aims:

Three-in-one and femoral nerve blocks are proven modalities for postoperative analgesia following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of magnesium (Mg) as an adjuvant to bupivacaine in 3-in-1 block for ACL reconstruction.

Methods:

Sixty patients undergoing arthroscopic ACL reconstruction were randomly allocated to Group I (3-in-1 block with 30 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine preceded by 1.5 ml of intravenous [IV] saline), Group II (3-in-1 block with 30 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine preceded by 1.5 ml of solution containing 150 mg Mg IV) or Group III (3-in-1 block with 30 ml containing 0.25% bupivacaine and 150 mg of Mg as adjuvant preceded by 1.5 ml of IV saline). Post-operatively, patients received morphine when visual analogue scale (VAS) score was ≥4. Quantitative parameters were compared using one-way ANOVA and Kruskal–Wallis test and qualitative data were analysed using Chi-square test.

Results:

Demographics, haemodynamic parameters, intra-operative fentanyl requirement, post-operative VAS scores and total morphine requirement were comparable between groups. Time to first analgesic requirement was significantly prolonged in Group III (789 ± 436) min compared to Group I (466 ± 290 min) and Group II (519 ± 274 min), (P = 0.02 and 0.05). Significantly less number of patients in Group III (1/20) received morphine in the first 6 h post-operatively, compared to Group I (8/20) and Group II (6/20) (P = 0.008 and 0.03). No side effects were observed.

Conclusion:

Mg as an adjuvant to bupivacaine in 3-in-1 block for ACL reconstruction significantly prolongs the time to first analgesic requirement and reduces the number of patients requiring morphine in the immediate post-operative period.

Immediate post-operative pain in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery with bone patellar tendon bone graft versus hamstring graft

Background

Pain in the immediate post-operative period after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery, apart from an unpleasant experience for the patient, can act as a barrier for static quadriceps contractions and optimum execution of the initial rehabilitation protocol resulting in slow recovery and a later return to full function for a sportsperson. There is no report in the literature comparing pain in the immediate post-operative period after using the two most widely used autografts, bone patellar tendon bone (BPTB) graft and hamstring graft.

Methods

The present study compared the visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score in the immediate post-operative period after arthroscopic ACL reconstruction with the BPTB and hamstring autografts. Both groups consisted of 50 patients each. The mean age of the BPTB and hamstring cohorts was 26.9 ± 7.3 years (age range 18–59 years) and 26.7 ± 9.0 years (age range 17–52 years), respectively. Unpaired t test was applied to compare pain scores between the BPTB and hamstring cohorts.

Results

In the present study, patients in the BPTB cohort showed higher mean pain scores across all the post-operative time intervals except at 6 h. However, the difference in the mean VAS pain score at post-operative 6, 12,18, 24, 36 and 48 h in the two groups was statistically not significant (p value of 1, 0.665, 0.798, 0.377, 0.651 and 0.215 at 6, 12, 18, 24, 36 and 48 h, respectively).

Conclusions

Our study concludes that the arthroscopic ACL reconstruction with BPTB autograft and hamstring autograft is associated with similar pain in the immediate post-operative period. As a result, aggressive physiotherapy regime is not affected by the type of graft being used for ACL reconstruction, as the pain scores in the immediate post-operative period are similar for both techniques.

Trial registration

Clinical Trials Registry-India, CTRI/2016/01/006502

Combined preoperative femoral and sciatic nerve blockade improves analgesia after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a randomized controlled clinical trial

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To compare preoperative femoral (FNB) with combined femoral and sciatic nerve block (CFSNB) in patients undergoing arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.

DESIGN

Prospective, randomized clinical trial.

SETTING

Ambulatory surgery center affiliated with an academic medical center.

PATIENTS

Sixty-eight American Society of Anesthesiology physical status I and II patients undergoing arthroscopic ACL reconstruction.

INTERVENTIONS

Subjects randomized to the CFSNB group received combined femoral and sciatic nerve blocks preoperatively, whereas patients randomized to the FNB group only received femoral nerve block preoperatively. Both groups then received a standardized general anesthetic with a propofol induction followed by sevoflurane or desflurane maintenance. Intraoperative pain was treated with fentanyl. Pain in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) was treated with ketorolac and opiates. Patients with significant pain despite ketorolac and opiates could receive a rescue nerve block.

MEASUREMENTS

Our primary outcome variable was highest Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) pain score in PACU. NRS pain scores, opioid consumption, opioid adverse effects, and patient satisfaction were assessed perioperatively until postoperative day 3.

MAIN RESULTS

The highest PACU NRS pain score was significantly higher in the FNB group compared with the CFSNB group (7 [3-10] vs 5 [0-10], P=.002). The FNB group required significantly larger doses of opioids perioperatively (31.8 vs 19.8mg intravenous morphine equivalents, P<.001). PACU length of stay was significantly longer in the FNB group (128.2 vs 103.1minutes, P=.006). There was no significant difference in opioid consumption, pain scores, or patient satisfaction on postoperative days 1-3 between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative CFSNB for arthroscopic ACL reconstruction improves analgesia, decreases opioid consumption perioperatively, and decreases PACU length of stay when compared with FNB alone.

Preoperative Femoral Nerve Block for Hip Arthroscopy: A Randomized, Triple-Masked Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Arthroscopy has become a standard method of treatment for a variety of intra-articular hip disorders. While most arthroscopic hip procedures are performed as outpatient surgeries, patients can still experience significant postoperative pain and opioid-associated side effects.

PURPOSE

The potential benefits of a preoperative femoral nerve block (FNB) in hip arthroscopy were explored in a previous retrospective review. The study objective was to confirm these findings in a prospective randomized study.

STUDY DESIGN

Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.

METHODS

Fifty patients undergoing hip arthroscopy were included in this prospective, single-center, randomized controlled trial that was patient-, operator-, and assessor-blinded. Patients received either a preoperative ultrasound-guided FNB with 20 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine (FNB group) or normal saline (control group). Nerve blockade was confirmed via standardized sensory testing before the induction of general anesthesia. The primary endpoint was cumulative consumption of oral morphine equivalent at 24 hours after discharge. Secondary endpoints included opioid use at various time points, pain scores, Quality of Recovery (QoR-27) score, incidence of nausea and vomiting, time to discharge, block-related complications, falls at 24 hours, and patient satisfaction.

RESULTS

Fifty patients completed the study, including 27 in the FNB group and 23 in the control group. Most patient characteristics were statistically similar between groups except for operative time, which was longer in the control group. Cumulative oral morphine consumption was lower in the FNB group at 48 hours; there was no difference at 24 hours or 7 days postoperatively. Pain scores were significantly lower up to 6 hours postoperatively in the FNB group compared with control; however, rebound pain was observed at 24 hours after discharge in patients who received FNB. There was no difference in most secondary outcomes. Importantly, a total of 6 patients in the FNB group reported falls (without injury) within the first 24 hours postoperatively compared with none in the control group. Patient satisfaction with pain control was high in both groups at all time points.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative FNB may improve early pain control after hip arthroscopy. However, given the observed risk of falls, the routine use of FNB for outpatient hip arthroscopy cannot be recommended.

Buprenorphine added to bupivacaine prolongs femoral nerve block duration and improves analgesia in patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty-a randomised prospective double-blind study

The aim of the study was to determine whether the addition the long-acting opioid buprenorphine as an adjuvant to the local anaesthetic agent would improve quality and prolong duration of femoral nerve blockade in post-operative analgesia following primary total knee arthroplasty. The study involved 48 patients. The femoral nerve was anaesthetised with a 0.25% solution of bupivacaine with adrenaline or with the addition of 0.3mg of buprenorphine. The duration of the sensory block and analgesic effect was assessed according to NRS scale at 12, 24, 36, 48, 60 and 72 hours post-surgery. Patients who received buprenorphine as an adjuvant to the local anaesthetic had significantly longer sensory blockade and lower NRS-rated pain intensity with the difference reaching statistical significance at 12 hours post-surgery.

Reducing the length of hospital stay after total knee arthroplasty: influence of femoral and sciatic nerve block

OBJECTIVE

the aim of this study is to evaluate the change in length of hospital stay postoperatively for Total Knee Arthroplasty after using femoral and sciatic nerve block.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

the medical records of 287 patients were evaluated, taking into account the number of hours of admission, the percentage and the reason for re-hospitalization within 30 days, as well as associated complications. All patients were divided into two groups according or not to whether they were admitted to ICU or not. During the years 2009 and 2010, isolated spinal anesthesia was the method used in the procedure. From 2011 on, femoral and sciatic nerve blocking was introduced.

RESULTS

between the years 2009 and 2012, the average length of stay ranged from 74 hours in 2009 to 75.2 hours in 2010. The average length of stay in 2011 was 56.52 hours and 53.72 hours in 2012, all in the group of patients who did not remain in the ICU postoperatively. In the same period, among those in the group that needed ICU admission, the average length of stay was 138.7 hours in 2009, 90.25 hours in 2010, 79.8 hours in 2011, and 52.91 hours in 2012. During 2009 and 2010, the rate of re-hospitalization was 0%, while in 2011 and 2012, were 3.44% and 1%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

according to this study, the use of femoral and sciatic nerve blocking after total knee arthroplasty allowed significant reduction in hospital stay.

A prospective double blinded randomized study of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with hamstrings tendon and spinal anesthesia with or without femoral nerve block

BACKGROUND

Current literature supports the thought that anesthesia and analgesia administered perioperatively for an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction have a great influence on time to effective rehabilitation during the first week after hospital discharge.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to answer the research question is there a difference in clinical outcomes between the use of a femoral nerve block with spinal anesthesia versus spinal analgesia alone for people undergoing ACL reconstruction?

METHODS

ACL reconstruction with spinal anesthesia and patient sedation (Group one); and spinal anesthesia with patient sedation and an additional femoral nerve block (Group two). Patients were re-evaluated for pain, range of motion (ROM), active contraction of the quadriceps, and a Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scoring scale.

RESULTS

Spinal anesthesia with a femoral nerve block demonstrates pain relief 6h after surgery (VAS 0.37; p=0.007). From the third (VAS=4.56; p=0.028) to the seventh (VAS=2.87; p=0.05) days after surgery, this same nerve blockage delivered higher pain scores. Patients had a similar progressive improvement on knee joint range of motion with or without femoral nerve block (p<0.002). Group one and two had 23.75 and 24.29° 6h after surgery and 87.81 and 85.36° of knee flexion after 48h post op.

CONCLUSION

Spinal anesthesia associated with a femoral nerve block had no additional benefits on pain control after the third postoperative day. There were no differences between groups concerning ability for knee flexion and to complete daily activities during postoperative period.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Randomized Clinical Trial Level I.

Postoperative Analgesia with Saphenous Block Appears Equivalent to Femoral Nerve Block in ACL Reconstruction

BACKGROUND

Adequate pain control following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL) often requires regional nerve block. The femoral nerve block (FNB) has been traditionally employed. Ultrasound application to regional nerve blocks allows for the use of alternatives such as the saphenous nerve block following ACL reconstruction.

QUESTIONS/PURPOSES

This study evaluated postoperative analgesia provided by the subsartorial saphenous nerve block (SSNB) compared to that provided by the traditional FNB for patients undergoing ACL reconstruction with patellar tendon (bone-tendon-bone (BTB)) autografts.

METHODS

A randomized, blinded, controlled clinical trial was conducted using 80 ASA I-III patients, ages 16-65, undergoing ACL reconstruction with BTB. The individuals assessing all outcome measures were blinded to the treatment group. Postoperatively, all patients received cryotherapy and parenteral hydromorphone to achieve numeric rating scale pain scores less than 4. At discharge, patients were given prescriptions for oral opioid analgesics and a scheduled NSAID. Patients were instructed to complete pain diaries and record oral opioid utilization. Patients were contacted on postoperative days (POD) 1 and 2 to ascertain the level of patient satisfaction with the analgesic regimen.

RESULTS

No differences between the two groups were found. Patient demographics and postoperative pain scores at rest were not different. In addition, there was no difference in opioid use, as measured in daily oral morphine equivalents between groups. A small but statistically significant report of higher patient satisfaction with the FNB was found on POD 1 but not on POD 2.

CONCLUSION

These data support our hypothesis that the SSNB provides similar and adequate postoperative analgesia when compared to the FNB, following arthroscopic ACL reconstruction with patellar tendon autograft.

Femoral nerve blocks for acute postoperative pain after knee replacement surgery

BACKGROUND

Total knee replacement (TKR) is a common and often painful operation. Femoral nerve block (FNB) is frequently used for postoperative analgesia.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the benefits and risks of FNB used as a postoperative analgesic technique relative to other analgesic techniques among adults undergoing TKR.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) 2013, Issue 1, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, dissertation abstracts and reference lists of included studies. The date of the last search was 31 January 2013.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing FNB with no FNB (intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) opioid, epidural analgesia, local infiltration analgesia, and oral analgesia) in adults after TKR. We also included RCTs that compared continuous versus single-shot FNB.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently performed study selection and data extraction. We undertook meta-analysis (random-effects model) and used relative risk ratios (RRs) for dichotomous outcomes and mean differences (MDs) or standardized mean differences (SMDs) for continuous outcomes. We interpreted SMDs according to rule of thumb where 0.2 or smaller represents a small effect, 0.5 a moderate effect and 0.8 or larger, a large effect.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 45 eligible RCTs (2710 participants) from 47 publications; 20 RCTs had more than two allocation groups. A total of 29 RCTs compared FNB (with or without concurrent treatments including PCA opioid) versus PCA opioid, 10 RCTs compared FNB versus epidural, five RCTs compared FNB versus local infiltration analgesia, one RCT compared FNB versus oral analgesia and four RCTs compared continuous versus single-shot FNB. Most included RCTs were rated as low or unclear risk of bias for the aspects rated in the risk of bias assessment tool, except for the aspect of blinding. We rated 14 (31%) RCTs at high risk for both participant and assessor blinding and rated eight (18%) RCTs at high risk for one blinding aspect.Pain at rest and pain on movement were less for FNB (of any type) with or without a concurrent PCA opioid compared with PCA opioid alone during the first 72 hours post operation. Pooled results demonstrated a moderate effect of FNB for pain at rest at 24 hours (19 RCTs, 1066 participants, SMD -0.72, 95% CI -0.93 to -0.51, moderate-quality evidence) and a moderate to large effect for pain on movement at 24 hours (17 RCTs, 1017 participants, SMD -0.94, 95% CI -1.32 to -0.55, moderate-quality evidence). Pain was also less in each FNB subgroup: single-shot FNB, continuous FNB and continuous FNB + sciatic block, compared with PCA. FNB also was associated with lower opioid consumption (IV morphine equivalent) at 24 hours (20 RCTs, 1156 participants, MD -14.74 mg, 95% CI -18.68 to -10.81 mg, high-quality evidence) and at 48 hours (MD -14.53 mg, 95% CI -20.03 to -9.02 mg), lower risk of nausea and/or vomiting (RR 0.47, 95% CI 0.33 to 0.68, number needed to treat for an additional harmful outcome (NNTH) four, high-quality evidence), greater knee flexion (11 RCTs, 596 participants, MD 6.48 degrees, 95% CI 4.27 to 8.69 degrees, moderate-quality evidence) and greater patient satisfaction (four RCTs, 180 participants, SMD 1.06, 95% CI 0.74 to 1.38, low-quality evidence) compared with PCA.We could not demonstrate a difference in pain between FNB (any type) and epidural analgesia in the first 72 hours post operation, including pain at 24 hours at rest (six RCTs, 328 participants, SMD -0.05, 95% CI -0.43 to 0.32, moderate-quality evidence) and on movement (six RCTs, 317 participants, SMD 0.01, 95% CI -0.21 to 0.24, high-quality evidence). No difference was noted at 24 hours for opioid consumption (five RCTs, 341 participants, MD -4.35 mg, 95% CI -9.95 to 1.26 mg, high-quality evidence) or knee flexion (six RCTs, 328 participants, MD -1.65, 95% CI -5.14 to 1.84, high-quality evidence). However, FNB demonstrated lower risk of nausea/vomiting (four RCTs, 183 participants, RR 0.63, 95% CI 0.41 to 0.97, NNTH 8, moderate-quality evidence) and higher patient satisfaction (two RCTs, 120 participants, SMD 0.60, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.97, low-quality evidence), compared with epidural analgesia.Pooled results of four studies (216 participants) comparing FNB with local infiltration analgesia detected no difference in analgesic effects between the groups at 24 hours for pain at rest (SMD 0.06, 95% CI -0.61 to 0.72, moderate-quality evidence) or pain on movement (SMD 0.38, 95% CI -0.10 to 0.86, low-quality evidence). Only one included RCT compared FNB with oral analgesia. We considered this evidence insufficient to allow judgement of the effects of FNB compared with oral analgesia.Continuous FNB provided less pain compared with single-shot FNB (four RCTs, 272 participants) at 24 hours at rest (SMD -0.62, 95% CI -1.17 to -0.07, moderate-quality evidence) and on movement (SMD -0.42, 95% CI -0.67 to -0.17, high-quality evidence). Continuous FNB also demonstrated lower opioid consumption compared with single-shot FNB at 24 hours (three RCTs, 236 participants, MD -13.81 mg, 95% CI -23.27 to -4.35 mg, moderate-quality evidence).Generally, the meta-analyses demonstrated considerable statistical heterogeneity, with type of FNB, allocation concealment and blinding of participants, personnel and outcome assessors reducing heterogeneity in the analyses. Available evidence was insufficient to allow determination of the comparative safety of the various analgesic techniques. Few RCTs reported on serious adverse effects such as neurological injury, postoperative falls or thrombotic events.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Following TKR, FNB (with or without concurrent treatments including PCA opioid) provided more effective analgesia than PCA opioid alone, similar analgesia to epidural analgesia and less nausea/vomiting compared with PCA alone or epidural analgesia. The review also found that continuous FNB provided better analgesia compared with single-shot FNB. RCTs were insufficient to allow definitive conclusions on the comparison between FNB and local infiltration analgesia or oral analgesia.

Multimodal therapy in perioperative analgesia

This article reviews the current evidence for multimodal analgesic options for common surgical procedures. As perioperative physicians, we have come a long way from using only opioids for postoperative pain to combinations of acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), selective Cyclo-oxygenase (COX-2) inhibitors, local anesthetics, N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists, and regional anesthetics. As discussed in this article, many of these agents have decreased narcotic requirements, improved patient satisfaction, and decreased postanesthesia care unit (PACU) times, as well as morbidity in the perioperative period.

Peripheral nerve blocks for postoperative pain after major knee surgery

BACKGROUND

Major knee surgery is a common operative procedure to help people with end-stage knee disease or trauma to regain mobility and have improved quality of life. Poorly controlled pain immediately after surgery is still a key issue for this procedure. Peripheral nerve blocks are localized and site-specific analgesic options for major knee surgery. The increasing use of peripheral nerve blocks following major knee surgery requires the synthesis of evidence to evaluate its effectiveness and safety, when compared with systemic, local infiltration, epidural and spinal analgesia.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the efficacy and safety of peripheral nerve blocks for postoperative pain control following major knee surgery using methods that permit comparison with systemic, local infiltration, epidural and spinal analgesia.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (Issue 1, 2014), MEDLINE and EMBASE, from their inception to February 2014. We identified ongoing studies by searching trial registries, including the metaRegister of controlled trials (mRCT), clinicaltrials.gov and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP).

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included participant-blind, randomized controlled trials of adult participants (15 years or older) undergoing major knee surgery, in which peripheral nerve blocks were compared to systemic, local infiltration, epidural and spinal analgesia for postoperative pain relief.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently assessed study eligibility and extracted data. We recorded information on participants, methods, interventions, outcomes (pain intensity, additional analgesic consumption, adverse events, knee range of motion, length of hospital stay, hospital costs, and participant satisfaction). We used the 5-point Oxford quality and validity scale to assess methodological quality, as well as criteria outlined in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. We conducted meta-analysis of two or more studies with sufficient data to investigate the same outcome. We used the I² statistic to explore the heterogeneity. If there was no significant heterogeneity (I² value 0% to 40%), we used a fixed-effect model for meta-analysis, but otherwise we used a random-effects model. For dichotomous data, we present results as a summary risk ratio (RR) and a 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Where possible, we calculated the number needed to treat for an additional beneficial outcome (NNTB) or for an additional harmful outcome (NNTH), together with 95% CIs. For continuous data, we used the mean difference (MD) and 95% CI for similar outcome measures. We describe the findings of individual studies where pooling of data was not possible.

MAIN RESULTS

According to the eligibility criteria, we include 23 studies with 1571 participants, with high methodological quality overall. The studies compared peripheral nerve blocks adjunctive to systemic analgesia with systemic analgesia alone (19 studies), peripheral nerve blocks with local infiltration (three studies), and peripheral nerve blocks with epidural analgesia (one study). No study compared peripheral nerve blocks with spinal analgesia.Compared with systemic analgesia alone, peripheral nerve blocks adjunctive to systemic analgesia resulted in a significantly lower pain intensity score at rest, using a 100 mm visual analogue scale, at all time periods within 72 hours postoperatively, including the zero to 23 hours interval (MD -11.85, 95% CI -20.45 to -3.25, seven studies, 390 participants), the 24 to 47 hours interval (MD -12.92, 95% CI -19.82 to -6.02, six studies, 320 participants) and the 48 to 72 hours interval (MD -9.72, 95% CI -16.75 to -2.70, four studies, 210 participants). Subgroup analyses suggested that the high levels of statistical variation in our analyses could be explained by larger effects in people undergoing total knee arthroplasty compared with other types of surgery. Pain intensity was also significantly reduced on movement in the 48 to 72 hours interval postoperatively (MD -6.19, 95% CI -11.76 to -0.62, two studies, 112 participants). There was no significant difference on movement between these two groups in the time period of zero to 23 hours (MD -6.95, 95% CI -15.92 to 2.01, five studies, 304 participants) and 24 to 47 hours (MD -8.87, 95% CI -27.77 to 10.03, three studies, 182 participants). The included studies reported diverse types of adverse events, and we did not conduct a meta-analysis on specific types of adverse event. The numbers of studies and participants were also too few to draw conclusions on the other prespecified outcomes of: additional analgesic consumption; median time to remedication; knee range of motion; median time to ambulation; length of hospital stay; hospital costs; and participant satisfaction. There were insufficient data to compare peripheral nerve blocks and local infiltration or between peripheral nerve blocks and epidural analgesia.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

All of the included studies reported the main outcome of pain intensity but did not cover all the secondary outcomes of interest. The current review provides evidence that the use of peripheral nerve blocks as adjunctive techniques to systemic analgesia reduced pain intensity when compared with systemic analgesia alone after major knee surgery. There were too few data to draw conclusions on other outcomes of interest. More trials are needed to demonstrate a significant difference when compared with local infiltration, epidural analgesia and spinal analgesia.

Preoperative femoral nerve block in hip arthroscopic surgery: a retrospective review of 108 consecutive cases

BACKGROUND

The utility of a femoral nerve block as an adjunct for pain management has been recognized for various surgical techniques but has yet to be examined in the preoperative setting as an adjunct to general anesthesia for improved postoperative pain control in hip arthroscopic surgery.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a preoperative femoral nerve block for postoperative pain control in patients undergoing hip arthroscopic surgery.

STUDY DESIGN

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review of 108 consecutive hip arthroscopic surgery cases (in 103 patients) was carried out. All patients underwent arthroscopic surgery under a general anesthetic with or without a preoperative femoral nerve block. Groups were compared with respect to patient sex, age, and body mass index (BMI); physical status classification according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA); procedure performed; operative time; total intraoperative morphine-equivalent dose; pain scores (0-10 scale) recorded at 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes postoperatively in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU); total morphine-equivalent dose in the PACU; presence of nausea or vomiting in the PACU; time to discharge from the PACU; oxycodone consumption in the surgical day care unit (SDCU); and maximal patient-reported pain score in the SDCU.

RESULTS

Twelve cases were excluded from the analysis for a total of 96 cases (in 92 patients). Forty patients had general anesthesia alone (group A), and 56 patients had a preoperative femoral nerve block before the induction of general anesthesia (group B). There was no significant difference between the groups with regard to sex, age, weight, height, BMI, ASA classification, or type of procedure performed. Patients who received a femoral nerve block also received a significantly lower total intraoperative morphine-equivalent dose than did those patients who did not receive a block. Postoperative patient-reported pain scores were lower at all time points for the femoral nerve block group; however, a statistical significance was seen only at the 60-minute postoperative time point. Patients who did not receive a block had significantly higher morphine-equivalent doses in the PACU. There was no difference in the rates of nausea and vomiting and time to discharge from the PACU between the 2 groups. Oxycodone consumption in the SDCU was similar between the groups, but the femoral nerve block group had significantly lower maximal patient-reported pain scores in the SDCU. Two patients in the general anesthesia group were admitted to the hospital postoperatively because of inadequate postoperative pain control. No complications were noted in any patient with regard to the femoral nerve block.

CONCLUSION

A preoperative femoral nerve block is a relatively safe procedure that may decrease the requirement for intraoperative morphine while providing effective postoperative pain control in patients undergoing hip arthroscopic surgery.

Femoral nerve block: Assessment of postoperative analgesia in arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Knee anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) may be painful in the postoperative period. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate whether the use of femoral nerve block (FNB) associated with spinal anesthesia would improve the postoperative pain treatment in ACLR and the secondary objectives were to evaluate tramadol request and adverse events.

METHOD

53 patients were randomly divided into two groups: GA (n =26) received spinal anesthesia and GB (n = 27) received spinal anesthesia and FNB. All patients received multimodal analgesia and rescue analgesics could be requested anytime. Assessments were performed at 6, 12 and 24 hours.

RESULTS

There was no difference between both groups regarding demographic and clinical- surgical variables. There was no difference between groups regarding pain intensity. Mean pain scores were higher at 12 hours in GA and there was no change in GB; 55.6% of patients reported moderate pain in GA and 53.8% mild pain in GB. There was no difference regarding tramadol request. There were no serious adverse events: 80.8% of patients in GB had motor block of the thigh and two fell.

CONCLUSIONS

Analgesia was more effective with the combination of spinal and FNB, which allowed better control of postoperative pain, assessed 12 hours after anesthesia. There was no difference in tramadol request. Patients in this study had no serious adverse events; however, one must be attentive to motor paralysis and the possibility of falling when FNB is performed.

Advanced age, obesity and continuous femoral nerve blockade are independent risk factors for inpatient falls after primary total knee arthroplasty

We asked whether femoral nerve blockade (FNB) was an independent risk factor for inpatient post-operative falls after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Data on 2197 primary TKAs were collected from our institution between 2003 and 2010. Patient demographics, type and duration of blocks were considered predictors of falls in a logistic regression model. Among 60 (2.7%) falls, the odds ratio was 1.04 (1.0-1.07; p=0.008) for each 1 year of increased age above the mean (66 years), 2.4 (1.3-4.5; p=0.005) for BMI >30 kg/m(2) and 4.4 (1.04-18.2; p=0.04) for continuous FNB. Single-shot FNB did not increase risk. No fall resulted in operative morbidity. The use of continuous FNB should be cautioned, especially in patients with other risk factors such as obesity and advanced age.

Preventive analgesia by local anesthetics: the reduction of postoperative pain by peripheral nerve blocks and intravenous drugs

The use of local anesthetics to reduce acute postoperative pain has a long history, but recent reports have not been systematically reviewed. In addition, the need to include only those clinical studies that meet minimum standards for randomization and blinding must be adhered to. In this review, we have applied stringent clinical study design standards to identify publications on the use of perioperative local anesthetics. We first examined several types of peripheral nerve blocks, covering a variety of surgical procedures, and second, we examined the effects of intentionally administered IV local anesthetic (lidocaine) for suppression of postoperative pain. Thirdly, we have examined publications in which vascular concentrations of local anesthetics were measured at different times after peripheral nerve block procedures, noting the incidence when those levels reached ones achieved during intentional IV administration. Importantly, the very large number of studies using neuraxial blockade techniques (epidural, spinal) has not been included in this review but will be dealt with separately in a later review. The overall results showed a strongly positive effect of local anesthetics, by either route, for suppressing postoperative pain scores and analgesic (opiate) consumption. In only a few situations were the effects equivocal. Enhanced effectiveness with the addition of adjuvants was not uniformly apparent. The differential benefits between drug delivery before, during, or immediately after a surgical procedure are not obvious, and a general conclusion is that the significant antihyperalgesic effects occur when the local anesthetic is present during the acute postoperative period, and its presence during surgery is not essential for this action.

The efficacy of intra-articular injections for pain control following the closed reduction and percutaneous pinning of pediatric supracondylar humeral fractures: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this single-blinded, randomized, controlled trial was to compare the analgesic efficacy of intra-articular injections of bupivacaine or ropivacaine with that of no injection for postoperative pain control after the operative treatment of supracondylar humeral fractures in a pediatric population.

METHODS

Subjects (n=124) were randomized to treatment with 0.25% bupivacaine (Group B) (n=42), 0.20% ropivacaine (Group R) (n=39), or no injection (Group C) (n=43). The opioid doses and the times of administration as well as child-reported pain severity (Faces Pain Scale-Revised) and parent-reported pain severity (Total Quality Pain Management survey) were recorded.

RESULTS

The proportion of subjects who required morphine and/or fentanyl injections was significantly (p=0.004) lower in Group B (10%) as compared with Group R (36%) and Group C (44%). On the basis of the log-rank test, the opioid-free survival rates were significantly greater in Group B as compared to Groups C and R. Total opioid consumption (morphine equivalent mg/kg) in the first seventy-two hours postoperatively was significantly less in Group B as compared with Group C (mean difference, 0.225; [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.0152 to 0.435]; p=0.036). Parent-reported pain scores were also significantly lower in Group B as compared with both Group C (mean difference, 1.81 [95% CI, 0.38 to 3.25]; p=0.014) and Group R (mean difference, 1.66; 95% CI, 0.20 to 3.12; p=0.027). There were no significant differences across the three groups in terms of self-reported pain. Differences between Groups R and C were not significant for any of the outcome variables.

CONCLUSIONS

The intra-articular injection of 0.25% bupivacaine significantly improves postoperative pain control following the closed reduction and percutaneous pinning of supracondylar humeral fractures in pediatric patients.

[Control of postoperative pain in knee arthroplasty: single dose femoral nerve block versus continuous femoral block]

INTRODUCTION

To compare the efficacy of a multimodal analgesia with 2 different techniques (femoral nerve block with a single dose and continuous femoral nerve block) in the control of pain, use of opioids, and secondary effects in patients subjected to total knee replacement.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A prospective randomised study of patients subjected to knee replacement with subarachnoid anaesthesia. The postoperative analgesia consisted of tramadol, dexketoprofen and paracetamol, and one of the following techniques: Femoral nerve block with a single dose of 30mL of 0.5% ropivacaine, or that dose plus a continuous infusion via a femoral catheter of 0.375% ropivacaine 6ml/h for 48h. The demographic, anaesthetic and surgical variables were recorded, along with the pain intensity using a visual analogue scale, opioid use, and complications at 24 and 48h after surgery.

RESULTS

A total of 104 patients were included. There no differences in the demographic data between the groups. The pain intensity was lower in the group that had continuous femoral block, particularly at 48h, compared to the single-dose block, and with a lower use of rescue analgesia in the continuous femoral block. The incidence in secondary effects was similar, with a lower long-term sensory block being observed in the femoral block with a single dose.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of peripheral nerve block is accepted practice for analgesia after knee replacement surgery. Continuous femoral block is a valid alternative, decreasing the use of rescue opiates and pain intensity (particularly at 48h) compared to isolated femoral block.

Use of invasive placebos in research on local anaesthetic interventions

Placebos play a vital role in clinical research, but their invasive use in the context of local anaesthetic blocks is controversial. We assessed whether recently published randomised controlled trials of local anaesthetic blocks risked harming control group patients in contravention of the Declaration of Helsinki. We developed the 'SHAM' (Serious Harm and Morbidity) scale to assess risk: grade 0 = no risk (no intervention); grade 1 = minimal risk (for example, skin allergy to dressing); grade 2 = minor risk (for example, subcutaneous haematoma, infection); grade 3 = moderate risk (with or without placebo injection) (for example, neuropraxia); and grade 4 = major risk (such as blindness, pneumothorax, or liver laceration). Placebo interventions of the 59 included trials were given a SHAM grade. Nine hundred and nineteen patients in 31 studies, including six studies with 183 children, received an invasive placebo assessed as SHAM grade ≥ 3. A high level of agreement (78%, κ = 0.80, p < 0.001) for SHAM grades 0-4 increased to 100% following discussion between assessors. More than half of the randomised controlled study designs subjected patients in control groups to risks of serious or irreversible harm. A debate on whether it is justifiable to expose control group patients to risks of serious harm is overdue.

Effect of combined single-injection femoral nerve block and patient-controlled epidural analgesia in patients undergoing total knee replacement

PURPOSE

Total knee replacement is one of the most painful orthopedic procedures, and effective pain relief is essential for early mobility and discharge from hospital. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether addition of single-injection femoral nerve block to epidural analgesia would provide better postoperative pain control, compared to epidural analgesia alone, after total knee replacement.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-eight patients received a single-injection femoral nerve block with 0.25% levobupivacaine (30 mL) combined with epidural analgesia (femoral nerve block group) and 40 patients received epidural analgesia alone (control group). Pain intensity and volume of patient-controlled epidural analgesia medication and rescue analgesic requirements were measured in the first 48 hours after surgery at three time periods; 0-6 hours, 6-24 hours, and 24-48 hours. Also, side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and pruritus were evaluated.

RESULTS

Median visual analog scale at rest and movement was significantly lower until 48 hours in the femoral nerve block group. Patient-controlled epidural analgesia volume was significantly lower throughout the study period, however, rescue analgesia requirements were significantly lower only up to 6 hours in the femoral nerve block group. The incidences of nausea and vomiting and rescue antiemetic requirement were significantly lower in the femoral nerve block group up to 6 hours.

CONCLUSION

The combination of femoral nerve block with epidural analgesia is an effective pain management regimen in patients undergoing unilateral total knee replacement.

Femoral nerve block with ropivacaine or bupivacaine in day case anterior crucial ligament reconstruction

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to evaluate analgesia, motor block and pharmacokinetics of ropivacaine 0.2% and 0.75% in a femoral nerve block (FNB) in day case patients for anterior crucial ligament (ACL)-reconstruction compared with bupivacaine 0.25% and placebo.

METHODS

Following ethics committee approval and informed consent, 280 patients were randomly allocated to four groups for single-shot FNB [30 ml ropivacaine 0.2% (group RO2.0), 0.75% (RO7.5), bupivacaine 0.25% (BU2.5) and NaCl 0.9% (NaCl)]. Analgesia (pain scores, primary outcome) and motor block were assessed at 4 h (dismissal) and up to 24 h. Plasma concentration was determined up to 240 min thereafter.

RESULTS

Pain scores at 4 h were significantly higher for NaCl 4 (0-8) (median, range) (vs.) BU2.5 2 (0-8), RO2.0 3 (0-9) and RO7.5 2 (0-8) (NS within the LA groups). Patients of the NaCl group needed analgesics significantly more often (93%) within 4 h after surgery vs. 16% of group RO2.0, 19% of group RO7.5 and 19% of group BU2.5. Motor block was significantly increased with all local anesthetics without a significant difference within the LA groups 3 (0-5) in RO2.0, 3 (0-5) in RO7.5 and 3 (0-4) in BU2.5 vs. 0 (0-3) in group NaCl (median (range); scale from 0=full strength to 5=complete paralysis). Peak plasma concentrations differed significantly: RO7.5: 1.4 +/- 0.4 (0.73-2.6) [microg/ml, mean +/- SD (range)] after 33 +/- 14 (10-40) min, RO2.0: 0.6 +/- 0.3 (0.13-1.0) after 22+17 (10-60) and BU2.5: 0.3 +/- 0.16 (0.05-0.62) at 31 +/- 17 (10-60), respectively.

CONCLUSION

FNB for ACL reconstruction with ropivacaine or bupivacaine provided better post-operative analgesia than placebo without reaching toxic plasma concentrations. Significant motor block was observed after 4 h in all groups including the lowest concentration of ropivacaine but occurred even with placebo.