Functional recovery with peripheral nerve block versus general anesthesia for upper limb surgery: a systematic review...

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Neurosurgery

Background:

• Peripheral nerve block (PNB) is a localized anesthetic technique inhibiting nerve signal transmission.
• PNB may reduce postoperative muscle spasms, potentially enhancing functional recovery after surgery.
• Upper limb surgery often involves significant postoperative pain and functional limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize evidence on the impact of PNB on functional recovery post-upper limb surgery.
• To compare the effectiveness of PNB versus general anesthesia in improving functional outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search across multiple databases (CENTRAL, MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, Scopus).
• Independent, duplicate review of study eligibility, risk of bias assessment, and data abstraction.
• Meta-analysis using random effects models where feasible, with GRADE methodology for evidence quality assessment.

Main Results:

• This section is to be populated upon completion of the systematic review.
• The review aims to quantify the differences in functional recovery between PNB and general anesthesia.

Conclusions:

• Summarize current evidence on PNB's role in functional recovery after upper limb surgery.
• Findings will inform future clinical trial design and practice guidelines for optimizing patient recovery.