Anesthetic Techniques and Their Clinical Application for Specific Orthopedic Procedures

Abstract

Regional anesthetic and analgesic techniques represent the cornerstones of orthopedic anesthesia; their development and advancement have established new possibilities and have allowed orthopedic surgery to become more available to more patients with comorbidities. While widely used at the Hospital for Special Surgery, variations of regional anesthetic approaches have to be tailored to individual patient comorbidities, preferences, anatomic variations, as well as surgical cofactors. In this chapter we discuss how regional anesthesia can provide focused and sustained pain relief for patients undergoing orthopedic surgery. We further elaborate on how the choice of specific anesthetics and techniques plays a key role in the successful conduct of regional anesthesia. Despite its benefits, the possibility of complications and contraindications must be kept in mind in order to minimize potential harm.