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
. 2022 Apr;38(4):1217-1223.
doi: 10.1016/j.arthro.2021.10.031. Epub 2021 Nov 19.

Periarticular Local Infiltrative Anesthesia and Regional Adductor Canal Block Provide Equivalent Pain Relief After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Andrew L Schaver  1 , Natalie A Glass  1 , Kyle R Duchman  1 , Brian R Wolf  1 , Robert W Westermann  2
Affiliations

Periarticular Local Infiltrative Anesthesia and Regional Adductor Canal Block Provide Equivalent Pain Relief After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Andrew L Schaver et al. Arthroscopy. 2022 Apr.

Abstract

Purpose: To compare postoperative pain and recovery after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) in patients who received an adductor canal block (ACB) or periarticular local infiltrative anesthesia (LIA).

Methods: A retrospective review of a prospectively collected ACL registry was performed. Patients underwent ACLR at a single institution between January 2015 and September 2020 and received long-acting local anesthesia with a preoperative ultrasound-guided ACB or periarticular LIA after surgery. Visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores, milligram morphine equivalents (MME) consumed in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), and total hospital recovery time were compared. Univariate analysis was used to compare VAS pain and MME totals between overall groups and groups propensity score matched for age, sex, body mass index, graft type, and meniscal treatment. Results are presented as mean (95%CI) unless otherwise indicated.

Results: There were 265 knees (253 patients) included (LIA, 157 knees; ACB, 108 knees). Overall, VAS pain scores before hospital discharge (LIA: 2.6 [2.4-2.8] vs ACB: 2.4 [2.1-2.7]; P = .334) and total MMEs were similar (LIA: 17.6 [16.4-18.8] vs ACB: 18.5 [17.2-19.8] (MME); P =.134). Median time to discharge also did not significantly differ (LIA: 137.5 [IQR: 116-178] vs. ACB: 147 [IQR: 123-183] (min); P = .118). Matched subanalysis (LIA and ACB; n = 94) did not reveal significant differences in VAS pain before discharge (LIA: 2.4 [2.1-2.7] vs ACB: 2.7 [2.4-3.0]; P = .134) or total MMEs (LIA: 18.6 (17.2-20.0) vs ACB: 17.9 (16.4-19.4); P = .520).

Conclusion: The use of ACB or LIA resulted in similar early pain levels, opioid consumption, and hospital recovery times after ACLR surgery.

Level of evidence: III, retrospective comparison study.

Keywords: ACL reconstruction; adductor canal block; local infiltrative anesthesia; morphine consumption; postoperative pain.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Secrist ES, Freedman KB, Ciccotti MG, Mazur DW, Hammoud S. Pain Management After Outpatient Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction:A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2016;44:2435–2447. - PubMed
    1. Jansson H, Narvy SJ, Mehran N. Perioperative Pain Management Strategies for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. JBJS Rev. 2018;6:e3. - PubMed
    1. Abdallah FW, Brull R, Joshi GP. Pain Management for Ambulatory Arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Evidence-Based Recommendations From the Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia. Anesth Analg. 2019;128:631–640. - PubMed
    1. Williams BA, Kentor ML, Vogt MT, et al. Economics of nerve block pain management after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: potential hospital cost savings via associated postanesthesia care unit bypass and same-day discharge. Anesthesiology. 2004;100:697–706. - PubMed
    1. Everhart JS, Hughes L, Abouljoud MM, Swank K, Lewis C, Flanigan DC. Femoral nerve block at time of ACL reconstruction causes lasting quadriceps strength deficits and may increase short-term risk of re-injury. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2020;28:1894–1900. - PubMed

Publication types