Is single injection ultrasound-guided infraclavicular block sufficient for postoperative pain in humerus fracture surgery?

Objective: T o compare the sufficiency of postoperative pain effects of ultrasound-guided infraclavicular block and general anesthesia in patients with humerus fracture undergoing upper extremity surgery. Method: The study was planned as a retrospective study. Forty two patients who underwent humerus fracture surgery between July 2016 and July 2017, with either general anesthesia (GA, n=19) or ultrasound-guided infraclavicular block (ICB, n=23) were included in the study. Postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores at rest and during activity at 30th min, 2, 6, 12 and 24th hours, the total amount of morphine consumed, the first analgesia requirement time were evaluated by postoperative patient controlled analgesia (PCA) devices. Results: The demographic characteristics of the patients were similar (p>0.05). The VAS scores at rest and during activity and total amount of consumed morphine were lower in the ICB group in the first 12 hours than in the GA group (p<0.001). Total amount of consumed morphine were lower, and the first analgesia requirement time was much more in the ICB group than in the GA group (p<0.001). But, there was no significant difference in complications between both groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided infraclavicular block could be a positive option for both sufficient of postoperative analgesia compared with GA in patients with humerus fracture undergoing upper extremity surgery.