Intra-articular Analgesia Versus Adductor Canal Block for Arthroscopic Knee Surgery

A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial of Intra-articular Analgesia Versus Adductor Canal Block for Arthroscopic Knee Surgery

This study is a randomized study that compares two commonly used post-operative pain reducing techniques by measuring the level of pain and use of pain medication after knee surgery.

Post-operative pain is a commonly associated with knee surgery. Treatment often includes an oral or intravenous (IV) narcotic regimen which often leads to nausea, vomiting and can cause consti-pation. These issues can contribute to the overall discomfort of the post-operative patient. Intra-operative injections and local nerve blocks have become common adjuncts to narcotics to reduce post-operative pain and the necessity for oral or IV narcotic use. The aim of this study is to com-pare analgesic use and clinical effects on post-operative pain management with intra-articular in-jection of 20ccs of 2% lidocaine with epinephrine at the start of the case plus 20ccs 0.5% mar-caine with epinephrine at the end of the case vs. adductor canal saphenous nerve blockade in pa-tients undergoing knee arthroscopy, as indicated by the need for rescue narcotics and patient pain scores. A randomized, single blinded study will be performed to evaluate post-operative pain control using VAS scores at 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, and 48hrs post-operatively, rescue narcotic use in the PACU, and total narcotic consumption over the same time period.

Inclusion Criteria:

• ASA I-III patients
• Age 18 to 65 years

Exclusion Criteria:

• Allergy or intolerance to local anesthetics, NSAIDs, or opioids
• Inability to understand the consent or study process
• Any contraindication to regional anesthesia
• Known history of substance abuse
• Chronic home opioid therapy
• History of major neurologic deficit in operative limb
• Chronic pain syndromes
• Pregnancy and nursing women