Evaluation of preemptive interspace between the popliteal artery and the capsule of the posterior knee (IPACK) block for ostoperative pain management in arthroscopic knee surgeries: a retrospective study

Abstract

Background: Interspace between the popliteal artery and the capsule of the posterior knee (IPACK) block is block, which is done by infiltration of local anesthetic to block terminal branches of genicular nerves and popliteal plexus that innervate the posterior capsule of the knee joint. In this study, we retrospectively reviewed our patient’s data to which IPACK block was applied for arthroscopic knee surgery. Our aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of IPACK block on postoperative analgesia, effects on additional analgesic consumption and patient satisfaction. 
 Material and Method: The data of 60 patients who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery under spinal anesthesia with or without applied preemptive IPACK block for postoperative analgesia were collected between October 2019 and December 2020. Group I consisted of 30 patients with preemptive IPACK block, while 30 patients without block were classified as the control group (Group II). Postoperative 0-1-2-6-12 and 24th hour VAS scores, additional analgesic needs, patient satisfaction scores, were compared in groups as primary outcome. 
 Results: As a result of the comparison between the groups, it was seen that there was a significant difference between the groups in favor of the IPACK Block group in terms of postoperative VAS scores after 1st hour, postoperative analgesic needs and patient satisfaction (p