Wound Catheter Pain Control Device for an Iliac Crest Bone Graft

Important information:

Your child received a wound catheter during surgery to decrease pain after surgery. This wound catheter is connected to a pain control device. The device contains a numbing medicine called ropivacaine which causes your child to have a numb feeling in the hip area that had surgery. The numbness will last until the wound catheter is removed. 

Many children go home with a wound catheter. An adult trained in the care and use of the device must be in the house while your child has the device. It is important to read the information below to know when to get help for your child.

Emergency instructions:

In the unlikely event that your child has a seizure, close the clamp and call 911.

Close the clamp on the device tubing to stop the infusion, and go to the nearest emergency room, if your child has any of the following symptoms: 

  • Numbness or tingling around the mouth

  • Funny taste in the mouth

  • Ringing, buzzing in the ears

  • Trembling

  • General feeling that things are not right

  • Increased irritability/ inconsolable

  • Blurred vision

  • Confusion

Close the clamp on the device tubing to stop the infusion and contact your surgical team (215-590-1000) for any of the following: 

  • Redness, swelling, pain, or yellowish discharge at the wound catheter site

  • Excessive bleeding or drainage form the wound catheter site.

  • The catheter comes out or is disconnected. Do not attempt to push the catheter in or reconnect.

  • Numbness, tingling, extending beyond the hip with the wound catheter

  • Dizziness, lightheadedness

  • Nausea/vomiting

Patient instructions:

Safety

The wound catheter causes your child to become numb around the site of insertion or have decreased sensation. Your child’s leg (and toes) should be able to move and should be warm and pink.

  • Avoid placing or spilling anything that is very hot or cold on, or near the hip while it is numb.

  • Protect the numb area from injury by pressure and sharp objects.

  • No driving/bike riding, or use of heavy machinery until permitted by your child’s surgeon.

Keep the pain control device close to your child at all times. This will help prevent pulling the wound catheter out accidentally. 

Dressings

  • Keep the wound catheter dressing dry and intact.

  • You will receive separate instructions for the surgical dressing.

Bathing

 Your child should not bathe/shower while the wound catheter is in place. After it is removed, please follow the recommendation of your surgeon. 

Catheter removal

There may be some medicine left in the pump when it is time to remove it.

Remove the catheter 3-5 days after surgery, as instructed by your surgeon:

  1. Remove the wound catheter device dressing.

  2. Gently pull out the tubing away from the incision. Do not pull straight up (see picture below).

  3. You will need to pull out about 3 inches of tubing, until you reach the end of the catheter. There is a colored tip at the end of the catheter.

  4. A bandage is not usually needed

Pain Management Program

If you have any questions or problems related to the pain control pump, or if your child’s pain is not controlled, call 215-590-1000, and ask for the pain management provider on call.

Call your plastic surgery team with other questions about your child’s care.

 

Reviewed March 2024 by Keara Bradley, CRNP, Michele Bythrow, CRNP, Maureen Scollon-McCarthy, CRNP