Orthopedic Patients

What Is Regional or Block Anesthesia?

• Regional Anesthesia or Regional Block is a type of analgesia performed to maximize pain control following a surgical or manipulative procedure. Most patients still receive a general anesthetic during the surgery.
• It involves “blocking” the nerves that supply sensation to the surgical area.
• At the Redbank Surgery Center most of our blocks are performed on patients undergoing orthopedic surgery.

Pain Management

• Perhaps one of the most important aspects of your surgery is the recovery phase.
• As stated in the “General Information” our discharge of patients is criteria based.
• One of those criteria is control / management of discomfort.
• Obviously each individual has a different level of tolerance when it comes to discomfort. Our objective is to make all of our patients as comfortable as possible following their procedure.

Shoulder Procedures (interscalene block)

• Most patients scheduled for a shoulder procedure, whether open, arthroscopic or manipulative, will be offered an Interscalene Block. This is administered by the anesthesiologist while you are in the pre-op area. It entails injecting local anesthetic around the nerves that supply sensation to the shoulder and upper arm.
• A successful block will offer the patient 8-24 hours of pain relief. This allows to patient to return home, to comfortable surroundings, and begin taking oral pain relievers prior to a large amount of discomfort.

Knee Procedures (femoral block)

• Regional anesthesia for knee procedures is usually offered to patients whom require a manipulation or an ACL repair. Again, it involves injecting long acting local anesthetic around the nerves supplying sensation to the upper thigh and knee. This is performed by the anesthesiologist in the pre-op area.

Wrist Procedures (axillary or supraclavicular blocks)

• Patients undergoing repair of wrist fractures are often in need of long acting pain relief.
• This can be obtained with a block that affects the nerves supplying sensation to the lower arm and wrist. It is performed in the pre-op area by the anesthesiologist.
• When you are being admitted to the center, the anesthesiologist will spend time with you explaining the “block” procedure. He will gladly answer any questions that you have concerning the benefits and risks of the procedure.