Differential blockade to assess surgical repair by intraoperative active mobilization in knee injuries-Beyond labour analgesia

Motor-sparing selective epidural analgesia has long been practised in the field of labour analgesia. However, the utility of such techniques in other fields remain limited. We present the successful use of a similar technique of differential blockade in a case of quadriceps plasty with realignment of patella for recurrent dislocation of patella. A very low concentration of bupivacaine and fentanyl was used through continous epidural. The adequacy of repair was assessed intraoperatively by active movement of operated limb by patient himself.