Fractures of the tibial plateau, while very painful, typically do not receive nerve blocks. This is because of a concern that the numbness from a nerve block would "mask" the typically painful symptoms of compartment syndrome, a condition that can lead to a permanent loss of function of the injured limb. Our study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of saphenous nerve block for pain management after surgical repair of a tibial plateau fracture. Based on cadaver studies and our clinical experience, we suspect that the saphenous nerve contributes to pain sensations of the tibial plateau and will not mask the pain from a compartment syndrome. In summary, while saphenous nerve block represents a safe option after tibial plateau open reduction internal fixation (ORIF), we aim to evaluate its effectiveness in this patient population.
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Pain Scores
Timeframe: Through hospital stay, an average of 3 days
Opioid requirements
Timeframe: Through hospital stay, an average of 3 days
Length of Stay
Timeframe: Through hospital stay, an average of 3 days