Regional anesthesia improves inpatient but not outpatient opioid demand in tibial shaft fracture surgery

Abstract

Background: Patients undergoing operative treatment of tibial shaft fractures have considerable pain largely managed with opioids. Regional anesthesia (RA) has been increasingly used to reduce perioperative opioid use.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of 426 patients that underwent operative treatment of tibial shaft fractures with and without RA. Inpatient opioid consumption and 90-day outpatient opioid demand were measured.

Results: RA significantly decreased inpatient opioid consumption for 48 h post-operatively (p = 0.008). Neither inpatient use after 48 h nor outpatient opioid demand differed in patients with RA (p > 0.05).

Conclusions: RA may help with inpatient pain control and reduce opioid use in tibial shaft fracture.

Level of evidence: Level III, retrospective, therapeutic cohort study.

Keywords: Nerve blockade; Opioid demand; Pain; Regional anesthesia; Tibial shaft fracture surgery.