European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Background and objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of an analgesic cock tail injection into the periarticular space in encouraging quick functional recovery. To evaluate the efficacy of the periarticular injection of an analgesic cocktail of medications in the immediate post-operative period and compare the results to the current treatment regimens currently being used to control pain in our institution, i.e. epidural infusion of Bupivacaine. Method: A randomised control trial was used in the investigation. The study included patients having a unilateral complete knee replacement. Following preoperative evaluation, patients were randomly divided into two groups, one of which received an epidural bupivacaine infusion for pain management and the other of which received a periarticular injection of a combination of analgesic medications. Range of motion and postoperative pain scores were recorded on days 1, 2, 3, and 10. Using a repeated measure ANOVA, consumption of morphine and functional rehabilitation were also measured and statistically analysed. Result: In the first few days following surgery, patients who got pericapsular injections of medication experienced pain reduction that was noticeably superior than that of the epidural group. The pericapsular injection group saw faster functional recovery, but by day 10 after surgery, there had been no change in functional ability or pain reduction. The method of pain control had no discernible impact on range of motion. Those who got pericapsular injections experienced less anesthesia-related adverse effects like nausea, pruritis, vomiting, and urine retention. Conclusion: Patients who underwent peri capsular injections experienced significantly less postoperative pain than those who used epidural injections on the first day following surgery (day 1). Even though the difference was not statistically significant, patients who got peri capsular injections for pain management reported less pain during the remaining days (days 2-10) after knee replacement. On the first day after surgery, patients who received peri capsular injections for pain treatment performed straight leg raises with braces far better than those who were receiving epidural infusions. From the second day on, this difference was no longer statistically significant.