Adductor Canal Block Versus Local Infiltration Analgesia for Postoperative Pain Management in Total Knee Arthroplasty

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a common surgical procedure for patients with knee osteoarthritis, often associated with postoperative pain. Effective pain management strategies are essential for improving patient outcomes and satisfaction. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of two analgesic modalities, local infiltration analgesia (LIA) and adductor canal block (ACB), in providing postoperative pain relief for patients undergoing TKA.

This prospective randomized comparative study included 60 patients undergoing TKA for knee osteoarthritis under subarachnoid block (spinal anaesthesia). Patients were divided into two groups: LIA group (local wound infiltration with periarticular injection of bupivacaine 0.125% + dexmedetomidine 1 mcg/kg) and ACB group (ACB with bupivacaine 0.125% + 1 mcg/kg dexmedetomidine). Pain relief was assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) score, time to first rescue analgesic requirement (NRS > 3), and total amount of analgesic needed in the first 24 hours post-surgery.

The time to first perception of pain with NRS > 3 was 11.30±0.8 hours in the ACB group and 9.40 ± 1.1 hours in the LIA group, with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001). Additionally, the total number of rescue analgesic doses given in the first 24 hours post-operatively differed significantly between the two groups (p = 0.046).

The study concludes that ACB is an effective postoperative analgesic modality, superior to local infiltration analgesia, for patients undergoing TKA.