Clinical efficacy of adductor canal blockade combined with transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation for total knee arthroplasty

Abstract

To evaluate the efficacy of adductor canal block (ACB) combined with transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS)for postoperative analgesia and early functional exercise after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). A total of 84 patients underwent primary unilateral TKA from January 2019 to August 2020 were selected, including 45 males and 39 females, aged 66-77 (72.8±8.9) years;body mass index (BMI) was for 19-25 (23.6±3.5) kg /m2. They were divided into adductor canal block combined with transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation group (TEAS+ACB group)and simple adductor canal block group (ACB group) according to random number table method, 42 cases in each group. ACB was performed in ACB group during the operation. And TEAS was performed in TEAS+ACB group on bilateral lower limbs in 1-7 days postoperative on the basis of ACB. VAS scores at 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 h after surgery, knee function at 1, 2, 3, 7 days after surgery, knee motion at 7 days after surgery and length of hospitalization days were recorded and compared between the two groups. There were no significant differences in VAS of rest pain and activity pain in postoperative 6, 12 h between two groups (P>0.05), but the VAS of TEAS+ACB group was lower at 24, 48, 72 h after surgery(P<0.05). There was no significant difference in at 1 day postoperatively between two groups(P>0.05) , but the knee function of TEAS+ACB group was better than that of the ACB group in 2, 3, 7 days postoperatively (P<0.05). The length of hospitalization days in were less than in ACB group. On the 7th day after operation, the knee motion of TEAS+ACB group was greater than that of the ACB group (P<0.05). TEAS combined with ACB has a better postoperative analgesic efficacy than simple ACB, and can promote early functional exercise of patients. It is safe and effective for postoperative analgesia after TKA.