The Journal of arthroplasty
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Continuous infusion of bupivacaine following total knee arthroplasty: a randomized control trial pilot study.
An RCT pilot-study was conducted to assess efficacy of a 48-h continuous local infiltration of intra-articular bupivacaine (0.5% at 2 cc/h) versus placebo (0.5% saline at 2 cc/h) in decreasing PCA morphine consumption following TKA. Secondary outcomes included 48-h VAS pain, opioid side effects, length of stay, and knee function scores up to 1-year postoperatively. ⋯ The intervention did not improve pain scores, or any other outcome studied. Given study results we would conclude that analgesia outcomes with a multimodal analgesia regimen are not significantly improved by adding 48 h of 0.5% bupivacaine infiltration at 2 cc/h.