Continuous Distal Adductor Canal Block With Periarticular Local Anesthetic Infiltration Versus Continuous Distal Adductor Canal Block Alone for Analgesia After Total Knee Arthroplasty

Continuous Distal Adductor Canal Block With Periarticular Local Anesthetic Infiltration Versus Continuous Distal Adductor Canal Block Alone for Analgesia After Total Knee Arthroplasty

Continuous Distal Adductor Canal Block With Periarticular Local Anesthetic Infiltration Versus Continuous Distal Adductor Canal Block Alone for Analgesia After Total Knee Arthroplasty

Continuous administration of local anesthetics to the distal adductor canal could spread into the popliteal fossa and contribute to analgesic effects on posterior knee pain. Periarticular local anesthetic infiltration is a component of multimodal joint pathways and the posterior knee capsule was among the tissues routinely infiltrated. It is expected that there will be overlapping effects of distal adductor canal block and periarticular injection. Therefore, we aim to compare the postoperative pain in the group that received only continuous distal adductor canal block and the group that received both continuous distal adductor canal block and periarticular injection. Sixty-six patients scheduled for total knee arthroplasty will be randomly divided into the two groups. In group 1, the adductor canal catheter is inserted 2cm above the adductor hiatus. In group 2, the adductor canal catheter is inserted where the nerve block performed in group 1 and periarticular injection are performed intraoperatively.

All catheters were inserted under a full aseptic technique using a real-time ultrasound-guided in-plane approach by an experienced anesthesiologist. The adductor canal catheter is inserted 2cm above the adductor hiatus.

All catheters were inserted under a full aseptic technique using a real-time ultrasound-guided in-plane approach by an experienced anesthesiologist. The adductor canal catheter is inserted 2cm above the adductor hiatus.The periarticular injection solution contained 20mL of 7.5 mg/mL ropivacaine, 30mg of ketorolac, and 0.3mL of 1.0 mg/mL epinephrine. These agents were mixed with normal saline to a combined volume of 50mL. The surgeon injected this mixture into the tensor fascia lata, subcutaneous tissues, abductors, short external rotators muscles, and structures in the capsule.

Pain intensity at rest evaluated by an 11-point numeric rating scale (NRS: 0 = no pain, 10 = worst imaginable pain) at 24 hours postoperatively

Pain intensity at rest evaluated by an 11-point numeric rating scale (NRS: 0 = no pain, 10 = worst imaginable pain) at 36 hours postoperatively and 48h postoperatively Quadriceps muscle strength will be measured by the dynamometer at 24h postoperatively

Pain score measured at 36 hours postoperatively and 48h postoperatively Quadriceps muscle strength measured at 24 hours postoperatively

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Patients aged 19 years old or older, with American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status 1-3, and scheduled for elective unilateral total knee arthroplasty Exclusion Criteria: 1. Allergy or intolerance to any of the drugs used in the study 2. Hepatic or renal insufficiency 3. Opioid dependency 4. Coagulopathy 5. Pre-existing neurologic or anatomic deficits in the lower extremities 6. Severe psychiatric illness

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Anesthesia and Pain Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine