Recent study questions the use of regional anesthesia in distal femur fracture surgery!

Keeping in view the outcomes of the study in Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, the use of regional anesthesia was linked with increased inpatient and outpatient opioid demand following the adjustment for baseline characteristics. The study assessed inpatient postsurgery opioid usage (0 to 24 hours, 24 to 48 hours, 48 to 72 hours) and outpatient opioid demand (hospital discharge to two weeks, six weeks, and 90 days) in 230 people undergoing surgery for distal femur fractures.

The effect of regional anesthesia and other baseline patient and therapy characteristics on the inpatient opioid usage and outpatient opioid demand was evaluated via unadjusted and adjusted multivariable models. A minor but significant rise in inpatient opioid usage in patients with regional anesthesia compared to no anesthesia was found. There were no vital differences at other time periods. Patients had considerably higher cumulative outpatient opioid demand from discharge to 6 weeks and 90 days.

Thus, routine use of  regional anesthesia may not be beneficial in patients undergoing surgery for distal femur fractures.