Analgesic effect of local application of ropivacaine to cervical spondylosis patients undergoing anterior and posterior combined approach

Objective: To investigate the analgesic effect of local application of ropivacaine to the neck muscle and the incision of cervical spondylosis on patients undergoing anterior and posterior combined approach. Methods: Forty patients with cervical spondylosis receiving anterior and posterior combined approach were randomly divided into control group and observation group. The patients in the observation group were injected with 20 ml 0.375% ropivacaine in the neck muscle and incision before operation,and applied additional spray of 20 ml to the neck muscle and incision after operation. The patients in the control group were given PCA analgesia pump containing flurbiprofen axetil and fentanyl after operation. The sedation scores and body comfort scores (BCS) at 0,2,6,12 and 24 hours after operation were evaluated. The pain in the neck,napex and incision was recorded according to the visual analog score (VAS). The adverse effects after operation were observed. Results: The VAS scores and BCS scores of the observation group at different time points within 12 hours were statistically different from those of the control group (P < 0.01),and those at 24 hours had no statistical difference (P > 0.05). The sedation scores of the observation group at different time points within 6 hours were statistically different from those of the control group (P < 0.01),and those after 12 hours had no statistical difference (P > 0.05). The incidence rate of the adverse effects had no statistical difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Local application of ropivacaine can reduce the postoperative pain in cervical spondylosis patients undergoing anterior and posterior combined approach,and no obvious toxicity related to the use of ropivacaine has been observed.