The Impact of Anesthesia on Muscle Strength and Function After Orthopedic Surgery: An Experimental Study

Abstract

Postoperative muscle weakness and impaired function are common complications after orthopedic surgery. This study aims to assess the impact of two commonly used anesthesia types—general anesthesia (GA) and regional anesthesia (RA)—on muscle strength and functional recovery after orthopedic surgery. A total of 100 patients undergoing lower-limb orthopedic surgery were randomly assigned to receive either GA or RA. Muscle strength and functional recovery were evaluated using isometric strength tests and functional mobility scores at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months post-surgery. The results showed that RA was associated with faster recovery of muscle strength and function compared to GA.