Patient controlled regional analgesia after carpal tunnel release: a double-blind study using distal perineural catheters

• This study was done to assess the efficacy of a perineural catheter for pain relief following carpal tunnel release (CTR). Sixty-six patients undergoing open CTR under local anaesthesia (LA) were randomly divided into three groups: Groups A and B had a perineural catheter and Group C served as non-blinded control group. Postoperative pain relief was by self-administration of either ropivacaine (Group A) or saline (Group B) via an elastometric pump and by oral paracetamol in Group C. Patients in Group A had a significantly greater difference in summed pain intensity than Group B. Fewer patients in Group A requested supplementary analgesics than in Group C. Patient satisfaction was higher in Group A than in Group B on day 1. However better analgesia was not associated with better functional recovery.

Keyword

Postoperative pain

patient controlled analgesia

hand

carpal tunnel release

local anaesthetics

ropivacaine

MEDICINE

MEDICIN

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)