Regional Blocks for Lateral Condyle Fractures

This is a double-blinded, randomized controlled trial evaluating the analgesic efficacy of infraclavicular regional blocks for postoperative pain control in patients following open reduction and percutaneous pinning for isolated closed lateral condyle fractures. Each patient will be evaluated initially at OIC's pediatric urgent care center and placed in a long arm splint with instructions to elevate the affected arm. Patients will not be discharged with any prescriptions for narcotic pain medication and will be instructed to take weight-based doses of acetaminophen and/or ibuprofen for pain control as needed.

All patients age 4-12 with isolated closed Weiss classification type II and III (>2mm displacement) lateral condyle fractures requiring fixation (e.g. satisfactory reduction not achieved with closed reduction and casting) will be approached for participation in the study. Demographic data (age, gender, weight, height, ethnicity, primary language spoken at home, insurance type) will be obtained through chart review on each included patient.

The exclusion criteria include 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, and patients with developmental delay that would preclude participation in the visual analog Faces Pain Scale-Revised. Informed consent will be obtained from all parents who wish to participate in the study, and assent will be obtained from patients when possible. If parents refuse participation in the study, the reason for refusal will be documented, and their child's care and post-operative protocol will be consistent with typical protocol at OIC.

All surgeries will be performed at the outpatient surgery center at OIC. Prior to surgery each patient will be randomized into one of two treatment groups. The group selected to undergo regional anesthesia will receive a single-stick ultrasound-guided infraclavicular nerve block to the affected extremity by a fellowship-trained pediatric anesthesiologist in the operating room using standard sterile technique. For each block ropivacaine 0.5% will be administered up to a max of 0.5 mL/kg until appropriate US-guided spread is achieved. Block duration and volume of ropivacaine used will be recorded, as will any immediate complications encountered (e.g. failed block). Participants randomized to the no regional anesthesia group will not receive any additional anesthetic prior to surgery and will undergo OIC's standard preoperative protocol. All patients in both groups will receive general anesthesia per standard protocol. All patients will undergo open reduction and percutaneous pinning using 2-3 pins placed laterally by two pediatric orthopedic surgeons (Dr. Mauricio Silva and Dr. Rachel Thompson). Participants will all be placed in posterior long arm splints thereafter and made non-weight bearing in that extremity. The patients will be transferred to OIC's post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), where morphine IV 0.1mg/kg will be utilized as needed before discharge home. Nursing staff will record the amount of pain medication provided in the PACU, as well as the pre-discharge pain scores, as is typical post-operative protocol. Prior to discharge a prescription for oxycodone solution 0.1 mg/kg PO q4-6 hours as needed will be given to all participants in both groups with instructions on medication administration and how to fill out the home medication log as per typical OIC post-operative protocol.

Post-operatively, the parents of each participant will be asked to use the Faces Pain Scale-Revised (FPS-R) to rate the child's level of pain at 24 hours and 48 hours after surgery. A research team member will call each participant's guardian at 24 and 48 hours post-operatively to collect these responses. Parents will further be asked to complete the modified Total Quality Pain Management Instrument (TQPM) regarding their level of satisfaction with surgery and post-operative pain control. Parents will be asked to report any side effects (e.g. nausea, vomiting, lethargy, constipation) associated with the medications. Parents will also be asked about any side effects (e.g. swelling, redness, hematoma, prolonged block) from the regional anesthesia. A take-home medication log will be utilized by the parents to record the type and amount of mediation given to each participant and to record any associated side effects.