The Orthopaedic Anesthesia section at the Medical University of South Carolina performs over 3400 anesthetics a year for a variety of orthopaedic surgeries. As a Level 1 trauma center and major orthopaedic referral center for the state, our cases include a wide variety of emergency trauma, sports medicine, spine, total joint replacement, hand, and pediatric surgeries. We provide anesthesia at both the main hospital and our Rutledge Tower ambulatory surgery center. The orthopaedic anesthesia section operates in concert with MUSC’s Acute Pain Service and Bone & Joint Center. This arrangement offers patients a team approach to anesthesia, surgery and postoperative pain management.
The goal of the orthopaedic anesthesia team is to provide a safe and painless anesthetic during both the intraoperative and post operative periods. Our care begins in the preoperative clinic where anesthetic options are discussed. The options our team employs include a variety of anesthetic techniques like epidurals, spinals, and a variety of specific peripheral nerve blocks. We use cutting edge technology and techniques to place the blocks thus improving the safety and efficacy of the anesthetic. We use special stimulating nerve catheters, ultrasound, and patient controlled infusion pumps to name a few. After surgery our Acute Pain Service is called to assess and address any pain needs as well as manage the epidural or peripheral nerve catheter.
