Lumbar Plexus Block for Postoperative Pain Control After Hip Arthroscopy. A Randomized Controlled Trial

Lumbar Plexus Block for Postoperative Pain Control After Hip Arthroscopy. A Randomized Controlled Trial

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the use of a lumbar plexus block for arthroscopic hip surgery is superior to oral and intravenous opioid pain medications alone in treating pain. In addition, the study will examine whether lumbar plexus blocks reduce the total amount of pain medication needed, and therefore reduce the side effects of these medicines and increase patient satisfaction. It is hypothesized that addition of the lumbar plexus block will significantly reduce patients' postoperative pain.

Inclusion Criteria:

• American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Class 1-3
• Patients aged 18 to 65 years
• Patients scheduled for primary, unilateral arthroscopic hip surgery by Dr. Kelly, Dr. Coleman, or Dr. Anil Ranawat
• Planned use of neuraxial anesthesia
• Body Mass Index less than 35
• Ability to follow study protocol

Exclusion Criteria:

• Chronic opioid use (defined as daily or almost daily use of opioids for >3 months)
• Contraindication to combined spinal-epidural anesthesia including but not limited to bleeding disorder, use of clinically relevant anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications, and anatomic abnormalities.
• Contraindication to lumbar plexus block including but not limited to bleeding disorder, use of clinically relevant anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications, and anatomic abnormalities.
• Infection at the injection site(s)
• Allergy to any of the study medications
• Contraindication to a short course of NSAIDs (renal failure, intolerance)
• ASA Class 4-5
• Patient refusal
• Patients younger than 18 years old and older than 65
• Patients with any known indwelling hardware of the lumbar spine.
• Patients with a peripheral neuropathy of the surgical extremity
• Non-English speaking patients