Regional anesthesia for nonunion surgery with iliac crest bone grafting results in an increase in same day discharge

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of fracture nonunion repair with autogenous iliac crest bone graft (ICBG) under regional anesthesia alone or in combination with other techniques compared to other anesthesia techniques.

Overall, 137 patients were identified who underwent ICBG as part of a repair of a long bone fracture nonunion between January 1, 2013 and October 1, 2020. Surgical and anesthetic records were reviewed to classify patients by anesthesia type. General, spinal, and regional anesthetics were used as either the primary anesthetic or as a combination of regional nerve block with general or spinal anesthesia.

Administration of regional anesthesia alone or in combination with general or spinal anesthesia (RA) and general or spinal anesthesia only (GS) groups differed in nonunion site distribution (p < 0.001). RA patients were discharged the same day more often than GS patients (30.9% vs 10.0%, p = 0.009) and experienced fewer postoperative complications (p = 0.021). The RA group achieved union sooner than the GS group (by 5.3 ± 3.2 months vs. by 6.8 ± 3.2 months, p = 0.006). Mean morphine equivalent dose was similar between groups (p = 0.23). Regional anesthesia use increased from 2013 to 2020, and same day discharge surgeries simultaneously increased over the same time period.

Regional anesthesia use increased in nonunion repair surgery with ICBG from 2013 to 2020. This was associated with an increase in same day discharge, sooner time to union, and decreased postoperative complications. There was not a need for increased opioid prescription in patients that underwent regional anesthesia.