Blunt needle infusion of local anesthetics or narcotic analgesics into operative wounds or joints.

Local anesthetics or narcotic analgesics introduced into surgical wounds have been noted to provide pain relief. These agents are typically infused into the postoperative joint or wound using a standard beveled needle or by pressing the syringe hub against the incision without a needle. We present an alternative method of administering these agents to provide pain relief in the orthopedic patient. A blunt needle is used to infiltrate the postoperative joint or wound with local anesthetics or narcotic analgesics.