Retrospective Investigation of the Efficacy of Blocks for Analgesia in Lower Extremity Surgery

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of the blocks in the orthopedic lower extremity surgery for analgesia. Methods: This retrospective research design was conducted with the Pain and Patient Follow-up Forms, which were registered in a training and research hospital between January 2015 and September 2018. Patients underwent unilateral lower extremity surgery under elective conditions with different clinical diagnoses were included in the study. A total of 58 patients in the 18-80 age group and in the American Society of Anesthesiologists I-II and III risk group who had no missing information in the pain and patient follow-up form were included in the study. Data was collected using the patient and pain follow-up form, Pinprick test and Modified Broomage scale. Kolmogorov Smirnov test, skewness and kurtosis, frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation, minimum-maximum values, paired t-test used for data analysis. Results: The mean age and duration of surgery were significantly higher in patients with femoral + sciatic (FS) block compared to patients who had adductor canal block + sciatic nerve (AKS) block. In addition, there was no statistically significant difference between groups in terms of the return time of pain sensation and sensory block. Also, the mean duration of motor block in FS block group was significantly shorter than AKS block group. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of hemodynamic data and pain level measured in 0th, 1st, 6th, 12th, 24th, 24th, 30th, 36th, 40th and 48th hours. Conclusion: In postoperative analgesia of patients undergoing orthopedic lower extremity surgery, there was no difference between FS block and AKS block groups in terms of the return time of pain sensation and sensory block. The mean duration of motor block in FS block group was significantly shorter than AKS block group. Considering that the return time of pain sensation and return time of sensory block in the selection of regional anesthesia methods, there is no statiscally difference between the FS block and AKS block groups in terms of early ambulation and physiotherapy practises.