COMPARISON OF 2 REGIONAL ANESTHETIC TECHNIQUES FOR KNEE ARTHROSCOPY

This study compares the efficacy of ''3-in-1 block'' versus femoral ne rve block for knee arthroscopy. One-hundred patients had a 3-in-1 bloc k; 180 patients had a femoral nerve block. The 3-in-1 block provided a nesthesia in 75 patients; 20 patients needed supplementary local anest hesia. Five patients required a general anesthesia to complete the ope ration. The femoral nerve block was effective in 88 patients; 90 patie nts needed intravenous flunitrazepam and/or fentanyl; 2 patients neede d general anesthesia. The 3-in-1 block provided more satisfactory musc le relaxation and a longer postoperative analgesia than femoral nerve block. No side effects were recorded in either group. Our results sugg est that the 3-in-1 block is the most effective technique of regional anesthesia for knee arthroscopy.