Analgesic effect of hamstring block after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction compared with placebo: a prospective randomized trial

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

50 patients scheduled for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with a semitendinosus gracilis (hamstring) autograft were randomized to one of two groups: hamstring block with infiltration of bupivacaine to the donor-site, or administration of saline in the same manner. The purpose of this study was to assess whether the administration of bupivacaine had a significant postoperative analgesic effect, including reducing pain and analgesia consumption. The hamstring block group demonstrated significantly lower pain scores for the first 6 hours postoperatively and lower consumption of opioid analgesia within the post-anaesthesia care unit (PACU). Differences between groups thereafter were not statistically significant.