Approximately 1 in 1,000 children born in the US have hip dislocation and 10 in 1,000 have hip subluxation requiring surgical intervention. Pain after major hip surgery in children is severe, yet there is no agreement on the most effective method for pain control. Post-operative pain modalities including lumbar epidural catheters (LEC), lumbar plexus catheters (LPC) and intravenous patient controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) have been described. IV-PCA has historically been the standard of care in spite of its numerous associated side effects. Regional anesthesia modalities have gained popularity because of superior pain control with lower opioid requirements.~In this study, the investigators describe the first prospective randomized controlled trial comparing lumbar plexus catheter to alternatives for post-operative pain management in children after major hip surgery. The investigators hypothesized that LPC would be as safe and efficacious as LEC and IV-PCA with the added advantage of a decreased length of stay. The investigators primary aim was to compare hospital length of stay. Secondary aim was to compare pain scores, opioid consumption and opioid-related side effects.
Hip surgery in children is painful and the optimal modality for managing post-operative pain has not been established. This prospective randomized controlled trail compares lumbar plexus catheter (LPC), lumbar epidural catheter (LEC) and continuous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with intravenous morphine.