title: Femoral nerve block as an alternative to parenteral narcotics for pain control after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
abstract: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is associated with significant postoperative pain, usually requiring parenteral narcotics. A prospective study of arthroscopically assisted autograft patellar tendon ACLR was initiated using Winnie's "three-in-one" femoral nerve block (FNB) as the primary means of postoperative pain control. Patient satisfaction and absence of parenteral narcotic use indicated clinical success. Of 24 patients studied, 92% had no parenteral narcotics administered following FNB. Ninety-five percent of patients believed FNB was beneficial and would request another. The average duration of pain control was 29 hours and the majority of patients (79%) believed discharge was possible within 23 hours. There were two patients who failed to respond to FNBs (8%) and no major complications. FNB is a safe, reliable, and effective form of analgesia following ACLR, eliminating the need for parenteral narcotics.
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt Sports Medicine Center, Nashville, TN 37212, USA.
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Edkin
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Spindler
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Flanagan
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D001182:Arthroscopy; D002045:Bupivacaine; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D005267:Femoral Nerve; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D009407:Nerve Block; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D002045:Bupivacaine