Continuous infusion of bupivacaine following total knee arthroplasty: a randomized control trial pilot study

This report has been verified by one or more authors of the original publication.

67 patients were randomized in this pilot study to evaluate the efficacy of a 48h continuous local infiltration of bupivacaine on reducing morphine consumption following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Patients received either local infiltration of intra-articular bupivacaine (0.5% at 2 cc/h) or placebo (0.5% saline at 2 cc/h) and were assessed over the first 48 hours and at 1 year. Results revealed that there were no significant differences between both groups regarding morphine consumption, pain scores, or any of the other clinical outcome measures.