Use of femoral nerve blocks in adolescents undergoing patellar realignment surgery

The purpose of this study was to analyze the efficacy of femoral nerve blocks (FNBs) in decreasing postoperative narcotic use in adolescents undergoing patellar realignment surgery (PRS). All patients who underwent PRS at 2 children's hospitals between 1998 and 2002 were included in the study. Patients were grouped according to postoperative analgesia: FNB (n = 14), as-needed intravenous morphine (PRN-IV; n = 16), or patient-controlled analgesia using morphine (PCA; n = 13). Total postoperative i.v. morphine use was statistically significantly different among the 3 groups: 9.0 mg for FNB, 26.43 mg for PRN-IV, and 64.7 mg for PCA. FNB use was effective in significantly decreasing postoperative i.v. narcotic use.