Early rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction under regional analgesia: a case report

Patients undergoing major knee surgery may experience postoperative pain, which could be exacerbated by early postoperative continuous passive motion or active mobilization. This pain may result in poor functional recovery. Use of regional analgesia techniques to achieve more consistent pain relief and to facilitate rapid rehabilitation can play an important role in optimizing postoperative outcome after anterior cruciate ligament repair (ACLR). This case study concerns a 20-year-old male soldier, otherwise healthy, who underwent ACLR. We inserted a catheter in the fascia iliaca compartment and performed postoperative analgesia with low-concentration ropivacaine by using an elastomeric pump. The patient started early rehabilitation under fascia iliaca compartment analgesia. We discuss the case and the influence of regional analgesia techniques on postoperative and clinical outcomes.