Background: In the present study practice of spinal anaesthesia,  bupivacaine is the most commonly used drug for spinal anaesthesia. To improve the quality of analgesia mainly adjuvants have been used. Intrathecal clonidine, which is a centrally acting alpha 2 adrenergic agonist, has analgesic effect in the substantia gelatinosa of the spinal cord which is due to activation of the postsynaptic alpha 2 receptors.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of spinal anaesthesia with clonidine added to hyperbaric bupivacaine in lower limb orthopaedic surgeries

Methodology:

60 Adult ASA I and ASA II point of both sexes and ages ranging from 20 – 50 years were included in the study who underwent orthopedic surgeries.

They were divided into two groups:

Group A – 3.5 mL (17.5 mg) of 0.5% Hyperbaric Bupivacaine + 0.2 mL of Clonidine (30 µg) intrathecally – 30 cases.

Group B – 3.5 mL (17.5 mg) of 0.5% Hyperbaric Bupivacaine + 0.2 mL of 0.9% NS intrathecally – 30 cases.

Results:

a)      Intrathecal clonidine along with 0.5% bupivacaine provided prolonged post – operative analgesia without significant increase in side effects compared to 0.5% bupivacaine alone.

b)      The quality of surgical anesthesia and post – operative analgesia were excellent.

Conclusion:

            It can be concluded by the present comparative and statistically significant results, that the combination of Bupivacaine 0.5% and Clonidine (low dose) 30 µg is better compared to Bupivacaine 0.5% alone, in providing post – operative analgesia as the combination group offers a convenient, simple, inexpensive, effective and safe means of good post – operative analgesia.