# Anesthetic Management of Inguinal Hernia Surgery in an Adult Patient With Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita: A Case Report

**Authors:** Thalis Asimakopoulos, Panagiotis Prodromakis, Irene C Kouroukli

PMC · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.80300 · 2025-03-09

## TL;DR

This case report describes a safe anesthetic approach for an adult with arthrogryposis undergoing hernia surgery, avoiding general anesthesia.

## Contribution

Presents a novel regional anesthesia strategy for adult AMC patients, addressing limited anesthetic guidelines for this rare condition.

## Key findings

- Ultrasound-guided nerve blocks with dexmedetomidine sedation were successfully used in an adult AMC patient.
- Avoiding endotracheal intubation and volatile anesthetics reduced anesthetic risks in this high-risk case.
- Regional anesthesia offers a viable alternative for AMC patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair.

## Abstract

Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC) poses major anesthetic challenges due to severe joint contractures, airway restrictions, and a debated risk of malignant hyperthermia. Despite these complexities, anesthetic reports in adult AMC patients remain extremely limited, leaving perioperative management largely unstandardized. We present the anesthetic approach for a 35-year-old male patient with AMC undergoing open inguinal hernia repair. Given the high risk of airway compromise and joint immobility, we opted for ultrasound-guided ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerve blocks with dexmedetomidine sedation, avoiding endotracheal intubation and volatile anesthetics. This case highlights regional anesthesia as a critical alternative to general anesthesia, providing valuable insights into safe, tailored anesthetic strategies for this rare and underreported population.

## Linked entities

- **Chemicals:** dexmedetomidine (PubChem CID 5311068)
- **Diseases:** arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (MONDO:0007157), malignant hyperthermia (MONDO:0018493)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** AMC (MESH:D001176), malignant hyperthermia (MESH:D008305), joint contractures (MESH:D003286), Inguinal Hernia (MESH:D006552)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Figures

3 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11977437/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11977437