The efficacy of intra-articular bupivacaine for relief of pain following arthroscopy of the ankle.
The intra-articular injection of local anaesthetic is frequently used for pain relief after arthroscopy. There is, however, no published evidence of the analgesic effect of bupivacaine in the ankle. In a randomised, double-blind study, 35 patients undergoing arthroscopy of the ankle were allocated to receive intra-articular saline or bupivacaine. Pain was assessed using pain scores and additional analgesic requirements. Intra-articular bupivacaine had a significant analgesic effect in the immediate post-operative period, reducing pain scores and the need for additional analgesics. We recommend the use of intra-articular bupivacaine for post-operative analgesia in ankle surgery.
Middleton
F
F
Worthing and Southlands NHS Trust, Worthing, West Sussex, UK. fionamiddleton@doctors.org.uk
Coakes
J
J
Umarji
S
S
Palmer
S
S
Venn
R
R
Panayiotou
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D001182:Arthroscopy; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D002045:Bupivacaine