Does the Transversus Abdominis Plane Block Reduce Morbidity Following Iliac Crest Bone Harvest in Pediatric Patients With Alveolar Clefts?

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to determine whether a Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) block can reduce donor site morbidity among pediatric patients undergoing iliac crest bone grafting for repair of their alveolar cleft. DESIGN: This retrospective cohort study was carried out at the Division of Dentistry at the Montreal Children's Hospital. Medical charts of patients who underwent alveolar cleft bone grafting between January 2011 and January 2021 were reviewed and they were divided into two groups, intraoperative TAP block and intraoperative local anesthesia infiltration (control group). The outcomes measured were patients' post-operative pain at the donor site, in-hospital narcotics requirements and length of stay. RESULTS: A total of 66 patients were included. There were no significant differences in pain scale among the TAP group and control group [1.9 (SD 2.5) and 1.3 (SD 2.1), respectively (p = 0.23)]. The mean length of stay for both groups was 1 day. Interestingly, there was a significant higher proportion of patients who required in-hospital opioids (morphine) in the TAP block group when compared to the control group (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study suggest there may be no role for a TAP block in reducing pain and improving opioid stewardship.