Approaches to the Lumbar Plexus: Success, Risks, and Outcome

Ultrasound-Guided Transmuscular Quadratus Lumborum Block Reduces Postoperative Pain Intensity in Patients Undergoing Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Methods

Eighty-eight patients undergoing THA were randomized to receive 0.33% ropivacaine (Group QLB, n = 44) or saline (Group Con, n = 44) for QL3 block. Spinal anesthesia was then performed. Pain intensity was assessed using the visual analog scale (0: no pain to 10: worst possible pain). The primary outcome was pain scores recorded at rest at 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 h and on standing and walking at 24, 36, and 48 h postoperatively. Secondary outcomes were analgesic consumption, side effects, the 10-meter walking speed on day 6, and patient satisfaction after surgery.

Results

Postoperative pain intensity was significantly lower in Group QLB compared to Group Con at rest after 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 h (p < 0.001) and during mobilization after 24, 36, and 48 h (p < 0.001). Morphine use was significantly lower in Group QLB compared to Group Con during 0–24 h (16.0 ± 7.1 vs. 34.1 ± 7.1 mg, p < 0.001) and during 24–48 h (13.0 ± 4.0 vs. 17.4 ± 4.6 mg, p < 0.001) postoperatively. The 10-meter walking speed was higher in Group QLB compared to Group Con, both at comfortable (0.79 ± 0.13 vs. 0.70 ± 0.14 m/s, p=0.012) and at maximum speeds (1.18 ± 0.26 vs. 1.06 ± 0.22 m/s, p < 0.001). Incidences of nausea (7.3% vs. 31%, p=0.006), vomiting (7.3% vs. 26.2%, p = 0.022), and urinary retention (9.8% vs. 28.6%, p=0.030) were lower in Group QLB than in Group Con.

Conclusions

Ultrasound-guided QL3 block is an effective pain management technique after THA.

Reduction of Postoperative Hip Arthroscopy Pain With an Ultrasound-Guided Fascia Iliaca Block: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Ultrasound-guided fascia iliaca blocks have been used for pain control after hip arthroscopy. There is little evidence regarding their effectiveness in comparison with other pain control modalities in patients who have undergone hip arthroscopy.

PURPOSE

To compare the efficacy of ultrasound-guided fascia iliac block with intra-articular ropivacaine in controlling pain after hip arthroscopy.

STUDY DESIGN

Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 2.

METHODS

Between 2015 and 2017, patients (N = 95) undergoing hip arthroscopy were randomly assigned to 2 groups. The first group received an ultrasound-guided fascia iliaca block with 50 to 60 mL of 0.35% ropivacaine. The second group received an intra-articular injection of 20 mL of 0.5% ropivacaine at the completion of the surgical case. Primary outcomes were postoperative pain scores in the recovery room; at postanesthesia care unit (PACU) discharge; and at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months. Secondary outcomes included intraoperative and PACU narcotic usage (converted to morphine equivalent use) as well as readmission rates, PACU recovery time, and postoperative nausea and vomiting.

RESULTS

Postoperative pain across all points did not significantly differ between the groups. Intraoperative and PACU narcotics did not differ significantly between the groups. Readmission rates, PACU recovery time, and postoperative nausea and vomiting did not significantly differ between the groups. There were no associated complications in either group.

CONCLUSION

Ultrasound-guided fascia iliaca block for hip arthroscopy had no clinical advantage when compared with onetime intra-articular ropivacaine injection.

REGISTRATION

NCT02365961 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier).

Local infiltration analgesia or femoral nerve block for postoperative pain management in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty. A randomized, double-blind study

Background and aims

Several methods for pain management following total hip arthroplasty (THA) have been described but the best postoperative pain management technique remains uncertain. We compared surgeon applied local infiltration analgesia (LIA) with anaesthesiologist performed femoral nerve block (FNB) using ultrasound. The primary aim was to assess pain intensity 24 h after THA.

Methods

In this randomized, double-blind study, 56 patients (ASA I-III) undergoing THA consented to participate. In Group FNB, patients received an ultrasound-guided femoral nerve block using 30 ml of ropivacaine 7.5 mg/ml (225 mg) while Group LIA received a similar volume of saline. Spinal anaesthesia was then performed and bupivacaine heavy, 3–3.5 ml injected depending on patient characteristics. During surgery, patients in Group LIA received a mixture of 300 mg (150 ml) ropivacaine, ketorolac 30 mg (1 ml) and adrenaline 0.5 mg (0.5 ml) (total volume 151.5 ml) peri-articularly and subcutaneously while Group FNB received 151.5 ml of saline peri-articularly in a systematic way by the surgeon. A multi-hole catheter was placed with the tip placed intra-articularly at the end of surgery in both groups. After 23 h, the LIA mixture consisting of 20 ml ropivacaine (7.5 mg/ml), ketorolac 30 mg (1 ml), adrenaline 0.1 mg (1 ml) (total volume 22 ml) was injected in Group LIA and the same volume of saline in Group FNB. Postoperative pain, analgesic consumption (postoperative and post-discharge), side effects, home discharge, quality of life and hip function were recorded, the latter up to 6 months after surgery.

Results

Postoperative pain intensity was significantly lower in Group LIA compared to Group FNB during mobilization at 24 h (primary endpoint), mean difference 1.8 NRS units (95% CI 0.7–2.9) (P = 0.006), at rest after 4 h (P = 0.029) and on standing after 24 (P = 0.0003) and 48 h (P = 0.043). Rescue morphine consumption was also significantly lower in Group LIA during 0–24, mean difference 13.5 mg (95% CI, 6.1–20.9) (P = 0.002) postoperatively. Motor block was greater at 6 h (P = 0.029) postoperatively in Group FNB. Two patients (one in each group) had persistent post-surgical pain (NRS > 3) at 3 months (3.6%) but none at 6 month. No other differences were found between the groups.

Conclusion

Local infiltration analgesia significantly reduces pain intensity on standing and mobilization, and rescue analgesic consumption compared to femoral nerve block without causing significant side effects. The superior analgesia in the LIA group may result from the secondary injection at 23 h postoperatively and needs to be furtherevaluated in future studies. No differences were found in home discharge, quality of life and hip dysfunction between the groups.

Implication

Local infiltration analgesia is the preferred method for postoperative pain management following THA compared to single-shot femoral nerve block.

© 2017 Scandinavian Association for the Study of Pain. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.