Audio-visual distraction during spinal anaesthesia for orthopaedic surgery.

Spinal anaesthesia is an effective method of delivering anaesthesia for primary total knee replacement. A regional technique has several benefits over an opioid based general anaesthetic (Fischer 2009) (Figure 1). Pre-medication and sedation is commonly used as an adjunct to create anxiolysis and reduce stress which could be provoked by being awake in the theatre environment. However, sedation is not without its disadvantages (Absalom & Adapa 2007) (Figure 2).