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P125 Evaluation of continuous femoral nerve block (CFNB) with elastomeric infusion for postoperative pain control and ambulatory discharge in ACL reconstruction

rapm · 2025-09-10 · canonical JSON source

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Background and Aims At Fundación Hospital de Alcorcón, we conducted a prospective observational study to evaluate the efficacy of continuous femoral nerve block (CFNB) using a perineural catheter for postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.Methods Our primary objective was to assess pain control and our secondary objective was to reduce opioid use and related adverse effects such as nausea, vomiting, sedation, and delayed discharge. At the end of surgery, a 300 ml elastomeric pump delivering 0.125% levobupivacaine at 10 ml/h was initiated. All patients received scheduled paracetamol and dexketoprofen as part of a multimodal analgesia regimen.Results We initially included 27 patients; 3 were excluded due to unreachability by phone, and 1 due to a technical issue with the catheter connection. Pain was assessed using a Verbal Numeric Scale (VNS) and need for rescue analgesia with tramadol. At 1, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours postoperatively, 17, 15, 17, 18, and 16 patients respectively reported VNS scores under 5. Only 10 patients required rescue analgesia with tramadol, indicating adequate baseline pain control. Seven patients were successfully discharged the same day. Of those who stayed overnight, only four remained due to pain. Other reasons for overnight stay included patient preference, drain output, or pending orthopedic evaluation. No patient required readmission or emergency care for pain. There were no reports of infection, mobility limitations, or significant complications related to the catheter. Patients described the system as easy to use and remove, and all expressed willingness to undergo the same procedure again if needed.Abstract P125 Figure 1Elastomeric pump delivering 0.125% levobupivacaineAbstract P125 Figure 2Femoral nerve block using a perineural catheterConclusions This approach supports effective multimodal analgesia that limits opioid use and facilitates outpatient management, potentially offering a cost-effective solution for postoperative care after ACL reconstruction.