Effects of Nerve Block on Knee Function After Knee Replacement

Effects of Continuous Lumbar Plexus Nerve Block on Functional Restoration and Outcome After Unilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty

Early physical therapy after knee surgery is very painful on top of pain from surgery. Pain following surgery can limit recovery. One way to treat pain is by giving intravenous (IV) pain medication with morphine. Another method is to use a "nerve block" which involves placing a thin catheter (tube) into the lower back near the nerves that sense pain in the knee and give a local anesthetic to numb the nerves. Sometimes both methods are used together. This research is being done to determine whether nerve blocks with a local anesthetic improve knee recovery in addition to providing pain relief as compared to IV pain medicine alone

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 21-80 year old
• ASA Physical Status ASA I and II
• Mentally competent
• Intellectually competent
• Body mass index <35
• No severe cardiac diseases
• No severe pulmonary diseases
• Unilateral knee disease
• No other lower extremity joint disease
• No chronic narcotic therapy or illicit drug use

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age <21 or >80 year old
• ASA Physical Status >ASA II
• Mentally incompetent
• Intellectually incompetent or cognitively impaired
• Non-English speaking patient
• Worker's compensation patient
• Body mass index > 35
• Bilateral knee disease
• Has other lower extremity joint disease
• Severe cardiac diseases
• Severe pulmonary diseases
• Chronic narcotic therapy or illicit drug use
• Pregnancy