A prospective, double-blinded, randomized comparison of ultrasound-guided femoral nerve block with lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block versus standard anesthetic management for pain control during and after traumatic femur fracture repair in the pediatric population

Pharmacological Treatment for Acute Traumatic Musculoskeletal Pain in Athletes

Pain management is a crucial issue for athletes who train and compete at the highest performance levels. There are still evidence gaps for the use of analgesics for sports injuries despite the growing interest in training and competition settings. However, high-quality research is needed to determine the most appropriate and optimal timing and formulations in non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug and opioid management, particularly given the strictness of anti-doping regulations. Indeed, the role of pharmacological therapy in reducing acute traumatic pain in athletes should still be addressed to minimize the timing of return to sport. Therefore, the aim of this comprehensive review was to summarize the current evidence about pain management in the setting of acute injury in elite athletes, providing the most informed strategy for pain relief and performance recovery.

Ultrasound-guided adductor canal block combined with lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block for post-operative analgesia following total knee arthroplasty: a prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled study

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether adductor canal block (ACB) combined with lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block (LFCNB) could improve the efficacy of post-operative analgesia in a comparison with a standard peri-articular infiltration analgesia (PIA) after a total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

METHODS

One hundred and sixty patients of scheduled unilateral primary TKA were randomly allocated into two groups for post-operative analgesia. Eighty cases were treated with ACB combined with LFCNB and the other eighty treated with PIA. The primary outcomes were pain visual analogue scale (VAS) and rescue pain killer consumption, and the secondary outcomes were knee active range of motion (ROM), quadriceps strength, patients' ambulation ability, Knee Society Score (KSS), length of hospital stay, and adverse events.

RESULTS

We found that ACB combined with LFCNB was better on decreasing the post-operative pain score within 12 hours at rest and 8 h with activity (p < 0.05) and provided longer duration of analgesia (19.91 ± 5.09 VS 12.06 ± 3.67 h, p < 0.01) and less rescue morphine consumption (13.63 ± 9.84 vs 18.00 ± 11.52 mg, p = 0.011) than the PIA. There was no significant difference between the two groups (p > 0.05) in terms of knee ROM, quadriceps strength, daily mobilization distance, KSS, and complication occurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

ACB combined with LFCNB provides a significantly better pain control, less opioid consumption, and longer duration of analgesia than peri-articular infiltration while preserving muscle function without affecting knee functional recovery nor the length of stay or side effects occurrence.

Current Evidence for Acute Pain Management of Musculoskeletal Injuries and Postoperative Pain in Pediatric and Adolescent Athletes

OBJECTIVE

Sports-related injuries in young athletes are increasingly prevalent with an estimated 2.6 million children and adolescents sustaining a sports-related injury annually. Acute sports-related injuries and surgical correction of sports-related injuries cause physical pain and psychological burdens on pediatric athletes and their families. This article aims to evaluate current acute pain management options in pediatric athletes and acute pain management strategies for postoperative pain after sports-related injuries. This article will also elucidate which areas of pain management for pediatric athletes are lacking evidence and help direct future clinical trials.

DATA SOURCES

We conducted a literature search through PubMed and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials to provide an extensive review of initial and postoperative pain management strategies for pediatric sports-related musculoskeletal injuries.

MAIN RESULTS

The current knowledge of acute pain management for initial sports-related injuries, postoperative pain management for orthopedic surgeries, as well as complementary and alternative medical therapies in pediatric sports-related injuries is presented. Studies evaluating conservative management, enteral and nonenteral medications, regional anesthesia, and complementary medical therapies are included.

CONCLUSIONS

Adequate pain management is important for sports injuries in children and adolescents for emotional as well as physical healing, but a balance must be achieved to provide acceptable pain relief while minimizing opioid use and side effects from analgesic medications. More studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of nonopioid analgesic medications and complementary therapies in pediatric patients with acute sports-related injuries.