Regional Blocks for Lateral Condyle Fractures

Description

The purpose of this study is to investigate the post-operative pain control in pediatric patients with closed lateral condyle fractures who undergo open reduction and percutaneous pinning. Patients will be randomized into one of two groups. Group 1 will receive an infraclavicular nerve block to the affected extremity by a fellowship trained pediatric anesthesiologist prior to surgery. Group 2 will undergo the Orthopaedic Institute of Children's (OIC) standard preoperative protocol. Post-operative pain management will be the same for both groups per standard protocol. Pain level will be assessed post-operatively using the Wong-Baker FACES scale and parents will be asked to fill out a questionnaire regarding their satisfaction with the surgery and pain control. Parents will also fill out a medication log until the patient no longer requires pain medication. All patients in both groups will receive standard oxycodone solution prescriptions post-operatively as per typical protocol. The duration of participation in the study is approximately 1 week and requires 2 visits (time of recruitment at surgery and 1st post-op visit). This study is being conducted in hopes of developing comprehensive pain management protocols to reduce opioid consumption after surgical fixations of displaced lateral condyle fractures if the study can show that patients are more satisfied and require less opioid medication when receiving preoperative regional anesthesia.

Conditions

Fractures, Closed, Humeral Fractures, Pain

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

The purpose of this study is to investigate the post-operative pain control in pediatric patients with closed lateral condyle fractures who undergo open reduction and percutaneous pinning. Patients will be randomized into one of two groups. Group 1 will receive an infraclavicular nerve block to the affected extremity by a fellowship trained pediatric anesthesiologist prior to surgery. Group 2 will undergo the Orthopaedic Institute of Children's (OIC) standard preoperative protocol. Post-operative pain management will be the same for both groups per standard protocol. Pain level will be assessed post-operatively using the Wong-Baker FACES scale and parents will be asked to fill out a questionnaire regarding their satisfaction with the surgery and pain control. Parents will also fill out a medication log until the patient no longer requires pain medication. All patients in both groups will receive standard oxycodone solution prescriptions post-operatively as per typical protocol. The duration of participation in the study is approximately 1 week and requires 2 visits (time of recruitment at surgery and 1st post-op visit). This study is being conducted in hopes of developing comprehensive pain management protocols to reduce opioid consumption after surgical fixations of displaced lateral condyle fractures if the study can show that patients are more satisfied and require less opioid medication when receiving preoperative regional anesthesia.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Infraclavicular Nerve Blocks for Postoperative Pain Control in Operative Pediatric Lateral Condyle Fractures

Regional Blocks for Lateral Condyle Fractures

Condition
Fractures, Closed
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Los Angeles

Orthopaedic Institute for Children, Los Angeles, California, United States, 90007

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Isolated lateral condyle humerus fracture
  • * Closed lateral condyle humerus fracture
  • * Weiss classification type II and III (\>2mm displacement) lateral condyle fractures
  • * Fractures treated with open reduction percutaneous pinning requiring fixation
  • * Open fractures
  • * Fractures with concomitant vascular or neurologic deficit
  • * Pathologic fractures
  • * Those presenting with concomitant injuries
  • * Swelling requiring post-operative hospitalization for monitoring
  • * Any known history of allergies to ropivacaine or oxycodone
  • * Patients with developmental delay that would preclude participation in the visual analog Faces Pain Scale-Revised

Ages Eligible for Study

4 Years to 12 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Collaborators and Investigators

University of California, Los Angeles,

Study Record Dates

2025-03-07