Utility of percutaneous catheters for local anaesthetics infusion for postoperative pain control in lumbar arthrodesis. A prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether postoperative continuous wound infiltration of levobupivacaine through two submuscular catheters connected to two elastomeric pumps after lumbar instrumented arthrodesis is more effective than intravenous patient-controlled analgesia.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: An observational, prospective cohorts study was carried out. The visual analogue scale, the need for additional rescue analgesia and the onset of adverse effects were recorded.

RESULTS: Pain records measured with visual analogue scale scale were significantly lower in the 48hours postoperative record at rest (p=.032). The other records of visual analogue scale showed a clear tendency to lower levels of pain in the group treated with the catheters. No statistically significant differences were found in the rescue analgesia demands of the patients. The adverse effects were lower in the catheter group (6 cases versus 11 cases) but without statistical differences.

CONCLUSIONS: A trend to lower pain records was found in the group treated with catheters, although differences were not statistically significant.