• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.152-155
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• 1995

Meralgia paresthetica is a disorder characterized by a pain or dysaesthesia, or both, in the anterolateral aspect of the thigh caused by entrapment or neurinoma formation of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve. Currently available modes of therapy include conservative treatment, lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block with steroids and local anesthetics, and surgery. At our neuro-pain clinic, w recently encountered three cases of meralgia paresthetica, all of which were treated by lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block. In which of them, two cases were successfully treated but one case was associate with pain relapse due to entrapment of lateral femoral cutaneous nerve by a retroperitoneal mass, schwannoma. In this paper we report our experience along with a review of the current literatures.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.87-90
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• 2015

Purpose: We evaluated the efficacy of ultrasound-guided lower extremity nerve block in trauma patients. Methods: From July 2013 to April 2014, 17 patients with multiple trauma had lower extremity nerve block for immediate management of open wound in the lower extremity. We evaluated the patient satisfaction of the anesthesia and any complications related to the block. Results: During the lower extremity nerve block, incomplete nerve block occurred in one patient. This is the second case, the reason for this was the lack of technique. There was no anesthetic complications. Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided lower extremity nerve block in trauma patients is an effective anesthesia technique in the immediate management of open wound in lower extremities.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.133-136
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• 2014

Skin grafting is often required for diabetic ulcerative foot lesions. In skin grafting, effective regional or local anesthesia into the donor and recipient areas plays a significant role in continuous control of pain. We report on a technique of ultrasound-guided nerve block on the femoral, sciatic, and lateral femoral cutaneous nerves in large split-thickness skin grafting for ulcer of the foot and leg.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.234-240
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• 2009

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the analgesic effect of 0.25% and 0.5% levobupivacaine for real time ultrasound guided single-injection femoral nerve block for the patients who are undergoing bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods: Femoral nerve block was done to all patients with 20 ml of 0.9% normal saline on one leg and 20 ml of 0.25% levobupivacaine on the other leg for group I (n = 16) and 0.5% levobupivacaine for group II (n = 15) with 1:200,000 epinephrine and using real-time ultrasound and a nerve stimulator. The data concerning the verbal numerical rating scale (VNRS) for each leg, the consumption of the intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV PCA) and the demands for the additional analgesics was collected at 0, 1, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours after the operation. Results: The legs on which femoral nerve block was done with levobupivacaine showed a lower VNRS score than the legs with normal saline in either group I or group II. The VNRS scores between the two legs, the consumption of the IV PCA and the demand for additional analgesics showed no significant differences between the groups. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that single-injection femoral nerve block using real-time ultrasound with either 0.25% levobupivacaine or 0.5% levobupivacaine 20 ml provides a good effect for the postoperative pain control after TKA.

• The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.74-78
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• 2010

Since the extent of use of musculoskeletal ultrasound in orthopaedic surgery is expanding, popliteal block(sciatic nerve block) and femoral nerve block(saphenous nerve block) are easily and safely performed without complications such as nerve injury or incomplete block. Also, due to the expanding use of ultrasound, orthopaedic surgery of not only foot but also ankle and lower leg could be done without general anesthesia or spinal anesthesia. We describe a detailed technique for ultrasound-guided femorosciatic nerve block based on the experience over 120 cases.

• The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.50-59
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• 2012

In the domain of orthopaedic surgery, application of regional nerve block for surgery or pain control in upper and lower extremities has been increased. By performing regional block of popliteal (sciatic), femoral, proximal saphenous nerve and ankle block under guidance of ultrasound, not only the safety, but also success rate of the procedure has increased, and amount of local anesthetics could be used less, too. Since the perineural single injection or continuous catheterization of diluted local anesthetics was performed more precisely and easily by the guidance of ultrasound, postoperative pain could be controlled without complications of PCA such as nausea, vomiting, etc. We will discuss about this ultrasound guided regional nerve block.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.211-216
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• 2008

Background: Postoperative pain after bilateral total knee replacement (TKR) is expected to be more severe than unilateral TKR. Intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV PCA) is less effective than other methods of pain management especially immediately after an operation even though it is an easily controlled method for managing pain. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of femoral nerve blocks combined with IV PCA after bilateral TKR for postoperative pain control. Methods: The patients in group I (n = 20) were given only IV PCA with morphine and group II (n = 20) were given bilateral femoral nerve blocks with 12 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine and epinephrine 1 : 400,000 before extubation followed by an IV PCA. Main outcome measures included numerical rating pain score, cumulative opioid consumption, hourly dose during each time interval, and side effects. Results: The pain score in group II was significantly lower than that in group I immediately after recovery of awareness and at 3, 6, 12 hours postoperatively. Cumulative opioid consumption was significantly decreased in group II during the first 48 hours postoperatively. The hourly dose in group II was also significantly lower than that in group I until 12 hours postoperatively. There was no difference in side effects between the groups. Conclusions: We concluded that bilateral femoral nerve blocks improve analgesia and decrease morphine use during IV PCA after bilateral TKR.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.138-143
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• 2020

Background: Severe pain associated with proximal femur fractures makes the positioning for regional anesthesia a challenge. Systemic administration of analgesics can have adverse effects. Individually, both the fascia iliaca block (FIB) and femoral nerve blocks (FNB) have been studied. However, there is little evidence comparing the two. The aim of this study was to compare the overall efficacy of the two blocks in patients with proximal femur fracture before positioning for spinal anesthesia. Methods: ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) class I, II, and III patients scheduled for elective and emergency surgery with the diagnosis of proximal femur fracture between October 2018 and June 2019 were included in the study. The patients were assigned to two groups by convenience nonprobability sampling of 35 each. Results: Our study showed a reduction in visual analogue scale scores at 3, 4, and 5 minutes after administration of the FIB being 5.1 ± 1.1, 4.1 ± 1.3, and 2.8 ± 0.8, and those after the FNB as 4.4 ± 1.1, 3.3 ± 1.1, and 2.1 ± 1.4 with P < 0.05, which was statistically significant. The mean first rescue analgesia time for the FIB was 7.1 ± 2.1 hours, while for the FNB it was 5.2 ± 0.7 hours. The P value was less than 0.001, which was significant. Conclusions: Both ultrasound guided FNB and FIB techniques provide sufficient analgesia for patient's positioning before spinal anesthesia. However, the duration of postoperative analgesia provided by FIB was greater than that of the FNB.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.271-287
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• 2021

Background: Postoperative pain management is crucial for patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). There have been many recent clinical trials on post-TKA peripheral nerve block; however, they have reported inconsistent findings. In this meta-analysis, we aimed to comprehensively analyze studies on post-TKA analgesia to provide evidence-based clinical suggestions. Methods: We performed a computer-based query of PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and the Web of Science to retrieve related articles using neurothe following search terms: nerve block, nerve blockade, chemodenervation, chemical neurolysis, peridural block, epidural anesthesia, extradural anesthesia, total knee arthroplasty, total knee replacement, partial knee replacement, and others. After quality evaluation and data extraction, we analyzed the complications, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, patient satisfaction, perioperative opioid dosage, and rehabilitation indices. Evidence was rated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. Results: We included 16 randomized controlled trials involving 981 patients (511 receiving peripheral nerve block and 470 receiving epidural block) in the final analysis. Compared with an epidural block, a peripheral nerve block significantly reduced complications. There were no significant between-group differences in the postoperative VAS score, patient satisfaction, perioperative opioid dosage, and rehabilitation indices. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that the peripheral nerve block is superior to the epidural block in reducing complications without compromising the analgesic effect and patient satisfaction. Therefore, a peripheral nerve block is a safe and effective postoperative analgesic method with encouraging clinical prospects.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.115-118
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• 2011

Meralgia paresthetica is a rarely encountered sensory mononeuropathy characterized by paresthesia, pain or sensory impairment along the distribution of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) caused by entrapment or compression of the nerve as it crossed the anterior superior iliac spine and runs beneath the inguinal ligament. There is great variability regarding the area where the nerve pierces the inguinal ligament, which makes it difficult to perform blind anesthetic blocks. Ultrasound has developed into a powerful tool for the visualization of peripheral nerves including very small nerves such as accessory and sural nerves. The LFCN can be located successfully, and local anesthetic solution distribution around the nerve can be observed with ultrasound guidance. Our successfully performed ultrasound-guided blockade of the LFCN in meralgia paresthetica suggests that this technique is a safe way to increase the success rate.