Direct application of ropivacaine-soaked gauze to sciatic nerve after necrotizing fasciitis exposes underlying muscles and nerves

Background: Necrotizing fasciitis is a rapidly progressive infection of the subcutaneous tissue and fascia with significant morbidity and mortality. There is a paucity of literature published on the benefits of regional anaesthesia in patients with necrotizing fasciitis of the extremities. Case Presentation: This study demonstrates novel approaches to management of pain in a patient with necrotizing fasciitis of the lower extremity. A 47-year-old male with polysubstance use disorder was found to have necrotizing fasciitis of the lower extremity. Surgical debridement included 15% of his total body surface area and resultant exposure of his sciatic nerve. A ropivacaine-soaked gauze was applied directly to the exposed sciatic nerve. Femoral and lateral cutaneous nerve blocks were performed to facilitate necessary surgical dressing changes and physical therapy. Conclusion: This report details techniques used in postoperative pain management to facilitate surgical dressing changes after extensive debridement of an extremity for necrotizing fasciitis. The use of local anaesthetic-soaked gauze may be a useful adjunct in certain scenarios.

Function-Preserving Neurotized Lateral Arm Free Flap in the Reconstruction of Hemiglossectomy Defects

Introduction and Methods The glabrous, thin, and pliable texture of lateral arm flap with no loss of any axial vessel of the limb renders it a good choice for hemiglossectomy defect reconstruction. The main caveat of this flap harvest is the loss of sensation in the distribution of posterior antebrachial cutaneous nerve (PABCN). In this article, we present two strategic sites and techniques to preserve the integrity of PABCN and at the same time harvesting lateral arm flap with a lengthy lower lateral cutaneous nerve of arm for the neurotization. The outcome of this function-preserving neurotized lateral arm free flap in the reconstruction of hemiglossectomy defects is analyzed and presented in this article. Results Ninety percent of the patients attained grade 3 score in objective assessment, leading to a significant p-value of 0.02 with this technique. All had preservation of sensation in the distribution of PABCN. Conclusion Our technique of harvest and neurotization has brought good functional recovery of the oral cavity with preservation of PABCN.

USG GUIDED FEMORAL & LATERAL CUTANEOUS NERVE BLOCK AS SAVIOUR- ANAESTHETIC MANAGEMENT OF PATIENT OF CKD-ESRD WITH DIFFICULT AIRWAY & COAGULOPATHY POSTED FOR NOVEL PROSTHETIC FEMORO-FEMORAL AV FISTULA.

Anaesthetic management for creation of a novel prosthetic femoro-femoral arteriovenous stula (AV) in 65 years old male patient k/c/o hypertension with CKD (Stage V, [ESRD] haemodialysis dependent for last 1.5 years with difcult airway and deranged coagulation prole. AV stula was initially created in upper limb which blocked 6 weeks back. Subsequently dialysis was done by dialysis catheter as temporary method and femoro-femoral AV stula creation using prosthetic graft was planned due to its early maturation time (7 days). Central neuraxial blocks were contraindicated because of deranged coagulation prole. Patient is also high risk for GA i/v/o ESRD and difcult airway. Therefore we planned for RA in the form of USG guided Femoral Nerve Block and Lateral Cutaneous Nerve (LCN) of thigh block. Femoral Nerve Block (FNB) and Lateral Cutaneous Nerve block (LCN) was performed under ultrasound guidance in real time using 20 and 10ml of 0.25% Bupivacaine respectively. After establishing block effect, surgery was performed solely under block with stable perioperative course.

Medial Versus Conventional Approach for Prevention of Lateral Cutaneous Nerve Injury in Total hip Arthroplasty with Direct Anterior Approach: A Study for Dual-center, Single-blind, Randomized Controlled Trial

Background; Lateral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) injury is one of the complication specific to total hip arthroplasty via the direct anterior approach. Recent anatomical studies have revealed that the LFCN not only courses between the sartorius and tensor fasciae latae muscles, but it also branches radially while distributing in the transverse direction from the sartorius muscle to the tensor fasciae latae muscle. The latter is called the fan type, in which injury of the LFCN is almost unavoidable using the conventional site for incision of the fascia. In order to reduce LFCN injury in the fan type, we devised a new approach of incising the fascia at a side 2 cm medial from the conventional site of incision. The purpose of this study is to examine how the site of incision of the fascia influences LFCN injury.Methods; This is a prospective, randomized, controlled study. All patients are divided into the fan type and non-fan type using ultrasonography before surgery. Patients with the fan type LFCN will be performed by the conventional approach and the medial approach in the order specified in the allocation table created in advance by our clinical trial center. The conventional approach involves incision of the skin, followed by incision of the fascia just below the site of skin incision. The medial approach proceeds medially from the site of skin incision, and involves incision of the fascia at a site 2 cm medial from the conventional site of incision. The primary endpoint is the presence of LFCN injury. The secondary endpoints will be assessed based on PROs at 3 months after surgery in an outpatient setting using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), the Japanese Orthopaedic Association Hip-Disease Evaluation Questionnaire (JHEQ), and the Forgotten-Joint Score-12 (FJS-12).Discussion; We hypothesize that the fan type LFCN can be protected from injury by incising the fascia at a more medial site than conventional site. If the usefulness of this surgical procedure is confirmed, the disadvantages of the DAA will be eliminated, potentially being highly beneficial to patients.Trial registration; UMIN Clinical Trials Registry, UMIN000035944.Registered on 20 Feburary 2019.