Advanced approach to anesthesiology has improved patient experience and recovery, decreased wait times for orthopedic surgeries since June 2025

Peterborough, ON – This month, Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) celebrates the first anniversary of the introduction of an advanced nerve catheter procedure for patients undergoing knee surgery.

Since June 2025, 220 patients have benefitted from the nerve catheter procedure, which involves having a tiny, flexible tube placed under the skin by an anesthesiologist to provide continuous, targeted numbing of the area following their knee surgery.

Benefits of the nerve catheter include:

  • Shorter hospital stays – many procedures can now be done on an outpatient basis rather than requiring overnight hospital stays
  • Faster and more comfortable recovery
  • Avoidance of opioid usage and related complications
  • Reduced wait times for knee surgeries – the current wait time for knee surgery at PRHC is now one (1) to two (2) months.

“The nerve catheter allows patients to recover in the comfort of their own home and provides better pain control after the operation, because the nerve block lasts several days,” says Dr. Carla Henderson, Anesthesiologist at PRHC. “Orthopedic surgeons can now offer same-day surgeries with these catheters, which means that we can do more operations and have shorter wait times for patients.”

“I have been telling everybody that if you have this operation, get this catheter,” says Elwyn, a patient at PRHC who underwent a knee replacement procedure recently. “I was expecting pain, I was expecting some sort of symptom from drugs that you take for pain, and because of the catheter, I had none of that.”

PRHC is currently the only hospital between Kingston and Durham to provide this service for patients.

Earlier this year, PRHC expanded our team of orthopedic surgeons to eight specialists. Ask your physician about a local referral for your orthopedic procedure. Having surgery closer to home:

  • Reduces stress, travel time and costs
  • Keeps patients closer to family, friends and community supports during and after their procedure
  • Provides convenient access to follow-up care with the surgeon

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  • With 500 inpatient beds, PRHC is a regional acute care referral centre serving one of the fastest-growing and aging populations in Canada across a broad urban and rural geography extending north to Haliburton, south to Northumberland, east to Quinte, and west to Durham.
  • Our 2024-2029 Strategic Plan highlights our commitment to provide timely and excellent care. Learn more about PRHC’s strategic plan here.
  • PRHC is working to meet the growing demand for care in our community and region. With the support of generous donors through the PRHC Foundation, we aim to empower world-class care, closer to home; fuel innovation and bring new, life-saving services to our region; attract the best and brightest healthcare professionals; and find solutions to critical hospital challenges. Find out more about the Campaign for PRHC here: prhcfoundation.ca/an-update-on-the-progress-of-the-70-million-campaign-for-prhc/

For more information: Michelene Ough | Director, Communications | mough@prhc.on.ca