This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Lower pain scores seen with continuous peripheral nerve block vs single injection block
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Results of this prospective randomized controlled trial showed patients who underwent surgery for an ankle fracture and had perioperative analgesia by way of a continuous peripheral nerve block experienced lower pain scores and took fewer pain pills than patients who had single-shot peripheral nerve block.
The study included 21 patients who were randomized to receive general anesthesia with a single-shot peripheral nerve block and 23 patients who had general anesthesia with a continuous peripheral nerve block using I-Flow’s On-Q pump. Investigators used the VAS to assess postoperative pain and satisfaction before patients were discharged from the postoperative care unit. At 7, hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours after surgery patients were contacted to evaluate their pain medication use and Numeric Pain Rating Scale score. Patients were evaluated for pain, infection, satisfaction and residual neurologic symptoms at 2-weeks, 6-weeks and 12-weeks postoperatively.
Results showed 12 patients from the single-shot group and 13 patients from the continuous group required medial-sided incisions and a local saphenous nerve block. The continuous group also had a longer time to discharge compared with the single-shot group. At time of discharge, both groups had similar mean VAS scores. At the 12-hour time point, the continuous group had significantly lower pain scores.
In the first 72 hours, the continuous group took significantly fewer pain pills compared with the single-shot group. Satisfaction ratings at 72-hours postoperatively were not significantly different between the groups.
Lower VAS pain scores were observed in the continuous group at 2 weeks and 12 weeks, with no significant differences between groups regarding neurologic symptoms and satisfaction ratings at 2 weeks, 6 weeks and 12 weeks. In the continuous group, the pump malfunctioned in seven patients and one patient accidently removed the catheter, according to researchers. ‒ by Monica Jaramillo
Disclosures: Ding reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the full study for a full list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts