Continuous Infragluteal Sciatic Nerve Block for Postoperative Pain Control After Total Ankle Arthroplasty

Abstract

Continuous peripheral nerve blocks (CPNB) for postoperative pain control are being used more frequently for total ankle arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to compare the amount of opioid analgesia used in patients with an infragluteal CPNB to that of patients with no CPNB for postoperative pain management after total ankle replacement. A retrospective cohort study was performed on 78 consecutive patients who had a total ankle arthroplasty from October 2006 to June 2013. The primary outcome measure was opioid analgesia use in the first 48 hours postoperatively. The mean postoperative narcotic use in oral morphine equivalents was 64.6 mg in the CPNB group compared to 129.6 mg in the no CPNB group ( P < .001). Using an infragluteal CPNB as a means of postoperative pain control in patients undergoing a total ankle replacement is associated with significantly decreased opioid use compared to patients receiving no CPNB. Levels of Evidence: Therapeutic, Level IV, case series