[Early postoperative mobilization of the knee joint following arthrolysis with continuous catheter peridural anesthesia].

21 patients with stiffness of the knee were operated on, for mobilisation under epidural analgesia. As soon as the patients returned to the ward the leg was placed on a mobilisation-splint driven by an electric motor. Epidural analgesia was continued by infusion of 0.25 ml/kg . h of 0.125% bupivacaine via epidural catheter for a period of four to six days whereafter the catheter was removed. Analgesia during mobilisation was complete or almost complete in 15 patients. In 5 cases loss of sensitivity was present predominantly or selectively in the contralateral extremity, in one patient segmental extension of epidural analgesia did not include the knee. The bladder had to be catheterized in 9 patients, three suffered from decubital ulcers which disappeared after removal of the epidural catheter. In spite of the frequency of side effects, which can be diminished by further experience, continuous epidural analgesia is advantageous for early mobilisation of the knee after arthrolysis. The patients must be informed about side effects and possible complications before giving their consent for this method of long lasting analgesia.