A comparison of epidural analgesia and local infiltration analgesia methods in pain control following total knee arthroplasty
Abstract
Methods: Thirty patients (28 female, 2 male; mean age: 69.37±5.11 years, range: 61 to 80 years) undergoing total knee arthroplasty between May 2011 and September 2011 were randomly divided into 2 groups. All patients received spinal anesthesia with bupivacaine. Postoperative analgesia of 72 ml 0.9% NaCl + 48 ml bupivacaine (1 ml = 5 mg, total 120 ml) was administered throughout 24 hours to Group 1 (n=15) by epidural catheter and to Group 2 (n=15) by ON-Q infiltration pump. Groups were compared based on the Bromage scores and visual analog scale (VAS), blood pressure, postoperative analgesia requirement and side effects.
Results: Demographic data were similar in both groups. Rates of additional analgesia requirement at the postoperative 60th minute and 2nd hour were significantly higher in Group 2 than Group 1 (p<0.05). Rates of nausea-vomiting at the postoperative 60th minute and 2nd hour were significantly higher in Group 1 than Group 2 (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). Bromage scores at 60 minutes and 2 hours was significantly higher in Group 1 than in Group 2 (p<0.01). Mean VAS scores at 60 minutes and 2 hours were significantly higher in Group 2 than Group 1 (p<0.05). While a statistically significant difference was found between systolic arterial pressure measurements at 60 minutes (p<0.05), there was no significant difference in diastolic arterial pressure and peak heart rate.
Conclusion: Although the analgesic effect of local infiltration is provided later than by epidural analgesia, the same level of pain control can be achieved with initial additional analgesia. Local infiltration is superior to epidural analgesia in respect of few side effects and early mobilization.
Keywords
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Health Care Administration
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Eylem Bedir
This is me
Tuhan Kurtulmus
This is me
Selma Basyigit
This is me
Ugur Bakir
This is me
Necdet Saglam
This is me
Gursel Saka
This is me
Publication Date
March 17, 2014
Submission Date
April 13, 2014
Acceptance Date
-
Published in Issue
Year 2014 Volume: 48 Number: 1