• S R Longo and D P Williams.
• Department of Anesthesia, Pennsylvania State University, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey 17033, USA.
• Reg Anesth. 1997 Jul 1;22(4):372-7.

Background And ObjectivesThe pain following total knee arthroplasty can be associated with significant morbidity, especially in the elderly. Regional anesthetic techniques attenuate or eliminate postoperative pain, which may reduce this morbidity.MethodsA 74-year-old patient with history of an epidural abscess underwent elective bilateral total knee arthroplasty for degenerative joint disease. Bilateral lumbar plexus catheters were placed via the fascia iliaca compartments. Lidocaine was infused postoperative through both catheters, and serum lidocaine levels were followed.ResultsThe patient received significant postoperative pain relief based on physical and subjective examination. There were no complications or untoward effects related to the technique.ConclusionLumbar plexus blockade with continuous local anesthetic infusion via the fascia iliaca compartment is an effective means of providing postoperative analgesia after total knee arthroplasty when epidural analgesia is contraindicated.

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