Analgesia Following Lumbar Discectomy

Overview

Lumbar discectomy surgeries are often the last option for patients with disc herniation who do not improve with conservative treatments. However, these procedures can lead to significant perioperative pain that may become chronic without effective management. While intravenous opioids are commonly used for pain control, they can complicate recovery and pose risks like dependence. In contrast, regional anesthetic techniques offer advantages such as quicker recovery, better postoperative pain relief, and reduced opioid use, which can lead to shorter hospital stays. Our study aims to compare the effectiveness of the retrolaminar block with local wound infiltration for pain management following posterior lumbar discectomy surgeries, potentially improving patient outcomes.

Lumbar discectomy surgeries are the last resort for disc herniation patients not responding to conservative treatment. However, these surgeries are associated with annoying perioperative pain that could be severe and progress to chronic pain if not managed properly. There is no consensus regarding the best approach for postoperative pain management following spine surgeries. Intravenous opioids are still the primary agents used for perioperative pain control, which can complicate the postoperative recovery with the associated side effects and the risk of opioid dependence. Regional anesthetic techniques for spine surgeries allow rapid recovery, prolonged postoperative analgesia, and less opioid consumption, which decreases hospital stays. The current study will compare the analgesic efficacy of the retrolaminar block to the local wound infiltration following posterior lumbar discectomy surgeries.