Dual erector spinae plane block for complex traumas of upper and lower limb: an opioid reduction strategy—a case series

Diwan, Sandeep; Nair, Abhijit; Adhye, Bharati; Bhong, Ganesh; Sancheti, Parag

doi:10.1186/s42077-023-00380-0

Dual erector spinae plane block for complex traumas of upper and lower limb: an opioid reduction strategy—a case series

Authors

10.1186/s42077-023-00380-0

Abstract

Background
Patients with polytrauma (fractures of the humerus and the femur) require concurrent operative fixation. Pain originating from multiple operative sites leads to increasing doses of opioid-based analgesia, which has detrimental effects in the form of longer hospital stays, higher costs, and increased mortality.
Case presentation
In twelve patients with humerus and femur fractures, a cervical erector spinae plane block (ESPB) at the level of T1 and a lumbar ESPB at the level of L2 were administered with a catheter and continuous infusion technique for postoperative analgesia. None of these patients required opioids in the postoperative period. The catheters were removed after 48 h.
Conclusions
A dual ESPB can be used successfully in patients with multiple injuries by appropriately selecting the level of intervention, and opioid-sparing analgesia can be effectively delivered to these patients.

Keywords