Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Comparative Study
. 2020 May 29;99(22):e19995.
doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000019995.

Proximal versus distal adductor canal blocks for total knee arthroplasty: A protocol for randomized controlled trial

Quan Wang  1 , Yijun Zhang, Jingyu Du, Xiangjin Lin
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Proximal versus distal adductor canal blocks for total knee arthroplasty: A protocol for randomized controlled trial

Quan Wang et al. Medicine (Baltimore). .

Expression of concern in

  • Expression of Concern: Study Protocols.
    [No authors listed] [No authors listed] Medicine (Baltimore). 2025 Nov 7;104(45):e46330. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000046330. Medicine (Baltimore). 2025. PMID: 41204616 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

Abstract

Background: Currently, there remains a paucity of literature about the efficiency of proximal adductor canal block (PACB) versus distal adductor canal block (DACB) for pain management after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The purpose of this study is to perform a randomized controlled trial to compare the efficiency of PACB versus DACB for early postoperative pain treatment after TKA.

Methods: This study is a 2-arm, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial that is conducted at a single university hospital in China. Subjects presenting for unilateral TKA are randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either a PACB or DACB group. The primary outcome of this noninferiority study is opioid consumption within the first 24 hours following surgery. Secondary outcomes include quadriceps strength, pain scores, distance ambulated, and patient satisfaction. Continuous variables are compared using Student t test.

Results: This clinical trial is expected to provide evidence of whether the PACB and DACB provide similar analgesia after TKA.

Trial registration: This study protocol was registered in Research Registry (researchregistry5440).

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram of the study.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Du X, Gu J. The efficacy and safety of parecoxib for reducing pain and opioid consumption following total knee arthroplasty: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Int J Surg 2018;59:67–74. - PubMed
    1. Paul JE, Arya A, Hurlburt L, et al. Femoral nerve block improves analgesia outcomes after total knee arthroplasty: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Anesthesiology 2010;113:1144–62. - PubMed
    1. Zhao Y, Huang Z, Ma W. Comparison of adductor canal block with local infiltration analgesia in primary total knee arthroplasty: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Int J Surg 2019;69:89–97. - PubMed
    1. Jaeger P, Zaric D, Fomsgaard JS, et al. Adductor canal block versus femoral nerve block for analgesia after total knee arthroplasty: a randomized, double-blind study. Reg Anesth Pain Med 2013;38:526–32. - PubMed
    1. Mariano ER, Kim TE, Funck N, et al. A randomized comparison of long-and short-axis imaging for in-plane ultrasound-guided femoral perineural catheter insertion. J Ultrasound Med 2013;32:149–56. - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms