Continuous Femoral Nerve Blockade versus Continuous Epidural Analgesia for Postoperative Pain Relief in Knee Surgeries

Abstract

he progression of osteoarthritis is characteristically slow, occurring over several years or decades. Over this period, the patient can become less and less active and thus more susceptible to morbidities related to decreasing physical activity including Potential Weight Gain. Early in the disease process, the joints may appear normal. However, the patient’s gait may be antalgic if weight-bearing joints are involved. Pain is usually the initial source of morbidity in osteoarthritis, with the disease’s primary symptom being deep, achy joint pain exacerbated by extensive use. Also, reduced range of motion and crepitus are frequently present. Stiffness during rest (gelling) may develop, with morning joint stiffness usually lasting for less than 30 minutes. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis accounting for about 30% of general physician visits. It may be defined as a heterogeneous group of conditions that lead to joint symptoms and signs which are associated with defective integrity of articular cartilage, in addition to related changes in the underlying bone and at the joint margins. It is usually classified as either primary (idiopathic) or secondary associated with a known condition. Although OA is present by histologic or radiographic criteria in nearly 80.0% of people by the age of 80 years, only half have symptoms and these are often variable and intermittent. There is a modest correlation between the presence of symptoms and the severity of anatomic changes