International Journal of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine

A Comparative Study of the Analgesic Effect of Haematoma Block Versus Intravenous Sedation for Reduction of Distal Radius Fractures in Adults

Objective: The pain levels during and after fracture reduction were compared between haematoma block and sedation for closed reduction of distal radius fractures in adults. The adverse events were highlighted.

Methods: A prospective study carried out at the accident and emergency unit of our hospital between 1st September, 2017 and 31st August 2018. Thirty six patients each were consecutively recruited into Haematoma Block (HB) and Sedation(S) groups using the simple balloting method. Five minutes after anaesthesia, the fracture was reduced and immobilized in a below-to-elbow Plaster of Paris (P.O.P) cast for 6 weeks.

Results: Sixty-seven patients completed the study with 33 patients in HB group and 34 patients in S group. The mean age of patients in the study population was 48.9 ± 16.2 (18 years-82 years) with a slightly higher female preponderance (M:F ratio of 1:1.8). The commonest cause of injury was domestic fall. There was significant reduction in the mean pain level during fracture reduction in patients who had haematoma block compared to sedation. There was no significant difference in the mean pain level after fracture reduction in both groups. There were mild gastrointestinal adverse events in sedated group.

Conclusion: Our study revealed that haematoma block was more effective than intravenous sedation in terms of pain control during fracture reduction. However, there was no difference in the pain level after reduction.

Author(s):

Kehinde Adesola Alatishe1*, Lukman Olalekan Ajiboye2, Chungjoe Choji1, Olatunji S Idowu1 and Olatunji Sulaimon Olanrewaju1

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