Comparison of femoral nerve block and fascia iliaca block for analgesia following reconstructive knee surgery in adolescents.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare the femoral nerve block with the fascia iliaca block for postoperative analgesia in adolescents undergoing reconstructive knee surgery.

DESIGN: Randomized, single-blinded study.

SETTING: Full-service pediatric medical center.

PATIENTS: 23 ASA physical status I and II patients, aged 8 to 16 years, undergoing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair.

INTERVENTIONS: Patients received either fascia iliaca or femoral nerve block prior to reconstructive surgery.

MEASUREMENTS: Pain scores by visual analog scale (VAS; 0-10) and morphine use were routinely recorded through to discharge from the hospital. Pain scores were assessed on days 1 and 2 at home post-discharge.

MAIN RESULTS: There was no difference between the femoral nerve block and the fascia iliaca nerve block in VAS pain scores or postoperative morphine consumption.

CONCLUSION: Either the femoral nerve block or the fascia iliaca block, followed by patient-controlled analgesia with morphine, provides efficacious analgesia for adolescents undergoing ACL reconstruction.