Regional and Local Anesthesia in Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery

Pediatric orthopaedic surgical procedures require a thoughtful multimodal approach to perioperative pain management that maximizes both patient comfort and safety. Local infiltrative anesthesia (LIA) has been commonly used with variety of formulations application methods. However, local provides limited anatomic coverage over relatively short length time. In comparison, regional can provide increased longer duration by applying anesthetic medication directly around targeted peripheral nerve or nerves. Peripheral blocks (PNB) have become in pediatric adolescent sports medicine procedures, especially for anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions (ACLR), but there is wide variation how PNBs are performed evidence support their overall benefits children relative potential complications, such as prolonged sensory motor paralysis. Even less known about use indications non-sports procedures. This article review the uses orthopaedics discussion available literature on safety efficacy.