Infusion of Local Anesthetic Improves Post-Op Pain for Hip Replacement Surgery

A special wound catheter used to infuse local anesthetic into the hip joint can provide improved post-operative pain control for patients undergoing hip replacement surgery, according to a study published in Anesthesia & Analgesia.

According to the report, continuous wound infusion with local anesthetic produces lower pain scores, reduced morphine use and reduced nausea and vomiting. The study author added that a positive effect on superficial and deep wound pain was still present three months after the infusion.

The study included 76 patients undergoing minimally invasive hip arthroplasty surgery. All patients received a specially designed wound catheter, and some patients were infused with local anesthetic ropivacaine while others were infused with an inactive placebo solution. Patients receiving ropivacaine had better pain control during the first 48 hours after surgery, with lower pain scores at rest and in motion.

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