​ANAESTHESIA FOR ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY

Orthopaedic procedures are most commonly performed under general anaesthesia. These surgeries can be associated with moderate to severe post-operative pain due to the nature of the injury and the surgical repair involved.
To help manage pain effectively, Dr Vanza often combines general anaesthesia with a regional nerve block, alongside oral and injectable pain medications.

What is a Nerve Block?A nerve block involves injecting local anaesthetic around specific nerves to numb the part of the body being operated on. This is usually performed:

• In addition to general anaesthesia or sedation, to improve comfort after surgery
• Or, in selected cases, as the sole anaesthetic, for example, numbing an entire arm for forearm surgery while you remain awake — based on your preference
  
  

What to Expect If a nerve block is chosen:

• A light sedative will be given via your IV to help you relax
• An ultrasound machine will be used to locate the nerves near the surgical site
• Local anaesthetic will be injected around the nerves
• Within 10 to 20 minutes, the area will become numb

The block typically lasts between 8 and 24 hours, effectively blocking pain signals from reaching your brain. It also temporarily blocks movement signals, so the affected area may feel weak or immobile while the block is active.

Benefits of a Nerve Block

• Reduced or minimal pain upon waking from surgery
• Lighter general anaesthetic or sedation, leading to less drowsiness, nausea, or vomiting
• Reduced need for opioid pain medications after the procedure