Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
4062045 | The Journal of Arthroplasty | 2007 | 6 Pages |
This study assessed the efficacy and duration of postoperative analgesia after continuous sciatic nerve block with and without continuous “3-in-1” block with bupivacaine after unilateral total knee arthroplasty and determined catheter tip correlation with analgesia. Thirty patients were randomized into 2 groups. Results suggested significantly reduced pain and rescue analgesic requirement in combined sciatic and 3-in-1 (group TS) compared to 3-in-1 group alone (group T). The postoperative pain-free interval and satisfaction score was significantly higher in the combined group (P < .05). The percentage of catheters in the ideal position was 53.3% for 3-in-1 and 93.3% for sciatic nerve. In conclusion, continuous sciatic nerve block when added to continuous 3-in-1 block provides a better quality of analgesia with lesser requirements of rescue analgesics without the need for routine radiographic conformation.