Adductor Canal Block and Multimodal Local Infiltration Analgesia in Patients Receiving Total Knee Arthroplasty

Comparison of Analgesic Efficacy and Functional Improvement of Adductor Canal Block and Multimodal Local Infiltration Analgesia for Patients After Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is associated with moderate to severe pain after operation. There are twenty thousand patients undertaking TKA annually in Taiwan, and the average length of hospital stay is about seven to ten days. In contrast, the length of hospital stay is only three to six days in some literatures. Adequate pain relief after surgery allows patients to mobilize earlier and easier and rehabilitate to reduce the length of hospital stay. By reducing hospital stay, we can reduce medical expenditure of national health insurance. In addition, effective analgesia can reduce the occurrence of chronic post-surgical pain which would compromise life quality and produce socioeconomic problems. This study tries to find a better solution for postoperative analgesia of TKA for patients in Taiwan. The present clinical study compares the effect of adductor canal block and local infiltration on postoperative analgesia and functional activity after TKA. To assess the outcome of both methods in the same patient, we can have more comparative result of pain score and functional parameters like range of motion of knee joint, time and ability to ambulate. Based on that, we try to find a better option for postoperative analgesia for patients receiving TKA in Taiwan.

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is associated with moderate to severe pain after operation. There are twenty thousand patients undertaking TKA annually in Taiwan, and the average length of hospital stay is about seven to ten days. In contrast, the length of hospital stay is only three to six days in some literature. Some patients choose to receive bilateral TKA simultaneously to avoid repetitive surgery and anesthesia, and are supposed to suffer more than those receiving unilateral TKA. Adequate pain relief after surgery allows patients to mobilize earlier and easier and rehabilitate to reduce the length of hospital stay and postoperative complications. By reducing the length of in-hospital stay and post-operative complication, we can reduce medical expenditure of national health insurance. In addition, effective analgesia can reduce the occurrence of chronic post-surgical pain which would compromise life quality and produce socioeconomic problems. This study tries to find a better solution for postoperative analgesia of TKA for patients in Taiwan. The present clinical study compares the effect of adductor canal block and local infiltration on postoperative analgesia and functional activity after bilateral simultaneous TKA. To assess the outcome of both methods in the same patient, we can have more comparative result of pain score and functional parameters like range of motion of knee joint, muscle power in knee adduction/abduction movement, and time and ability to ambulate. Based on that, we try to find a better option for postoperative analgesia for patients receiving TKA in Taiwan.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients were eligible to enter the study if their age are between 20 to 90 years old and scheduled for bilateral TKA secondary to osteoarthritis.

Exclusion Criteria:

• American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status class IV-V, history of abnormal liver enzymes, hepatic failure, renal insufficiency, cardiac failure, organ transplant, neuropathic pain, history of stroke or major neurological deficit, coagulopathy, thrombocytopenia, sensory and motor disorders in lower limb, previous drug dependency, chronic use of opioids, allergy to local anesthetics and drug used in experiment, inability to walk independently, inability to comprehend pain assessment and patients refusing to have spinal anesthesia or enter this study.