ULTRASOUND GUIDED DORSAL RAMUS NERVE BLOCK FOR REDUCTION OF POSTOPERATIVE PAIN IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING LUMBAR SPINE SURGERY: A CASE SERIES IMAGING STUDY.

In patients undergoing spine surgery postoperative pain management can often be complicated with side effects associated with high dose narcotic such as respiratory depression and those associated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as interference with bone healing process. Local anesthetics can help in both decreasing postoperative pain and minimizing side effects associated with systematically administered analgesics. This report describes the use of preoperative ultrasound guided dorsal ramus nerve block to reduce postoperative pain in six patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery under general anesthesia.