ABSTRACT
Clinical experience with local infi ltration analgesia (LIA) over the last 13 years has demonstrated that the technique is safe and reliable. Nonetheless, there are several safety issues that may be of concern to potential users. For example, the use of high doses of local anaesthetics can have potentially serious side-effects, including seizures and cardiac arrest. Ketorolac, used in other circumstances, has been associated with renal failure, gastric ulceration and endoprosthetic loosening. Concerns have also been expressed about the infection risk and safety of using a pain catheter to reinject the joint and extend the duration of the block. These and other issues are addressed below.
