Incidence of self-limiting back pain in children following caudal blockade: an exploratory study.

BACKGROUND

Currently, in pediatric anesthesia, there is no evidence-based information available to pediatric patients and their parents regarding the incidence of back pain after neuraxial injections performed for postoperative analgesia. Back pain postepidural blockade has been reported in numerous studies with adult patients; however, it has not been investigated in children. The main objective of this study is to examine the incidence of back pain symptoms after caudal blockade (early and late onset) in children.

METHODS

Patients under the age of 18 years, who received caudal blockade at the Montreal Children's Hospital between July 2006 and December 2008 were recruited in this prospective observational study. Back pain was measured prospectively by patient self-report and parental observation during the 15-day postoperative period. Patients, or their parents, were contacted by phone on postoperative day 2 (POD2) and postoperative day 15 (POD15) to answer a seven-item symptom questionnaire.

RESULTS

In a sample of 135 children, the incidence of back pain symptoms was 4.7% and 1.1% on POD2 and POD15, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study provide support that transient self-limiting back pain after caudal blockade does occur in pediatric patients. Clinically, this is useful information for physicians to provide to their patients. An exploration of factors that may be associated with back pain following caudal blockade in children is an interesting area of future research.