Single-injection Femoral Nerve Block Research Articles

Smallest Clinically Meaningful Improvement in Amputation-Related Pain and Brief Pain Inventory Scores as Defined by Patient Reports of Global Improvement After Cryoneurolysis: a Retrospective Analysis of a Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial.

The smallest meaningful improvement in pain scores (minimal clinically important difference [MCID]) after an analgesic intervention is essential information when both interpreting published data and designing a clinical trial. However, limited information is available for patients with chronic pain conditions, and what is published is derived from studies involving pharmacologic and psychological interventions. We here calculate these values based on data collected from 144 participants of a previously published multicenter clinical trial investigating the effects of a single treatment with percutaneous cryoneurolysis. In the original trial, we enrolled patients with a lower-limb amputation and established phantom pain. Each received a single-injection femoral and sciatic nerve block with lidocaine and was subsequently randomized to receive either ultrasound-guided percutaneous cryoneurolysis or sham treatment at these same locations. Investigators, participants, and clinical staff were masked to treatment group assignment with the exception of the treating physician performing the cryoneurolysis, who had no subsequent participant interaction. At both baseline and 4 months (primary end point), participants rated their phantom limb pain based on a numeric rating scale (NRS) and their interference of pain on physical and emotional functioning as measured with the Brief Pain Inventory's interference subscale. They subsequently qualitatively defined the change using the 7-point ordinal Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC). The smallest clinically meaningful improvements in phantom limb pain and Brief Pain Inventory scores were calculated using an anchor-based method based on the PGIC. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) phantom pain NRS (0-10) improvements at 4 months considered small, medium, and large were 1 [1-1], 3 [3-4], and 4 [3-6], respectively. The median improvements in the Brief Pain Inventory interference subscale (0-70) associated with a small, medium, and large analgesic changes were 16 [6-18], 24 [22-31], and 34 [22-46]. The proportions of patients that experienced PGIC ≥5 were 33% and 36% in the active and placebo groups, respectively. The relative risk of a patient experiencing PGIC ≥5 in the active group compared to the sham group with 95% confidence interval was 0.9 (0.6-1.4), P = .667. Amputees with phantom limb pain treated with percutaneous cryoneurolysis rate analgesic improvements as clinically meaningful similar to pharmacologic treatments, although their MCID for the Brief Pain Inventory was somewhat larger than previously published values. This information on patient-defined clinically meaningful improvements will facilitate interpretation of available studies and guide future trial design.

This Month in Anesthesiology

This Month in Anesthesiology

Network meta-analysis of the analgesic effectiveness of regional anaesthesia techniques for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction can cause moderate to severe acute postoperative pain. Despite advances in our understanding of knee innervation, consensus regarding the most effective regional anaesthesia techniques for this surgical population is lacking. This network meta-analysis compared effectiveness of regional anaesthesia techniques used to provide analgesia for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Randomised trials examining regional anaesthesia techniques for analgesia following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction were sought. The primary outcome was opioid consumption during the first 24 h postoperatively. Secondary outcomes were: rest pain at 0, 6, 12 and 24 h; area under the curve of pain over 24 h; and opioid-related adverse effects and functional recovery. Network meta-analysis was conducted using a frequentist approach. A total of 57 trials (4069 patients) investigating femoral nerve block, sciatic nerve block, adductor canal block, local anaesthetic infiltration, graft-donor site infiltration and systemic analgesia alone (control) were included. For opioid consumption, all regional anaesthesia techniques were superior to systemic analgesia alone, but differences between regional techniques were not significant. Single-injection femoral nerve block combined with sciatic nerve block had the highest p value probability for reducing postoperative opioid consumption and area under the curve for pain severity over 24 h (78% and 90%, respectively). Continuous femoral nerve block had the highest probability (87%) of reducing opioid-related adverse effects, while local infiltration analgesia had the highest probability (88%) of optimising functional recovery. In contrast, systemic analgesia, local infiltration analgesia and adductor canal block were each poor performers across all analgesic outcomes. Regional anaesthesia techniques that target both the femoral and sciatic nerve distributions, namely a combination of single-injection nerve blocks, provide the most consistent analgesic benefits for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction compared with all other techniques but will most likely impair postoperative function. Importantly, adductor canal block, local infiltration analgesia and systemic analgesia alone each perform poorly for acute pain management following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

ISOKINETIC STRENGTH IS COMPARABLE AMONG ADOLESCENT PATIENTS WHO HAD EITHER A SINGLE INJECTION FEMORAL NERVE BLOCK OR CONTINUOUS FEMORAL NERVE CATHETER DURING ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION

Background:Single injection femoral nerve blocks or continuous femoral nerve catheters are commonly used during anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). However, both single injection and continuous femoral nerve catheters have been associated with decreased quadriceps strength and function up to 6 months postoperative compared to no regional anesthesiaPurpose/Hypothesis:We compared isokinetic limb asymmetry 5-10 months post-surgery between patients who received either single injection or continuous femoral nerve block during ACLR. We also assessed patient characteristics potentially associated with strength deficits. We hypothesized that patients with continuous femoral nerve catheters would demonstrate decreased quadriceps function due to increased local anesthetic.Methods:We reviewed medical records of patients ages 10-19 years who completed isokinetic testing 5-10 months following quadricep tendon ACLR by a single surgeon. Patients were excluded for previous lower limb surgery. We grouped patients based on whether they received a single injection femoral nerve block (FNB group) or a continuous femoral nerve catheter (FNC group) intraoperatively. Using isokinetic data at 60, 180, and 300 degrees per second, we calculated maximum torque percent deficit of the involved compared to the uninvolved leg, as well as compared peak torque extensor and flexor deficits (% difference between operative/non-operative sides) between groups.Results:Sixty-two patients were included: 50 who received FNC and 12 who received FNB (Table 1). There were no significant differences between continuous femoral nerve block and single-shot femoral nerve block groups for extensor deficits at any speed (Figure 1) or for flexor deficits at any speed (Figure 2). At 60 degrees/s (p=0.006) and 180 degrees/s (p=0.017), longer time since surgery was associated with smaller extensor deficits (Table 2). At 180 degrees/s (p=0.008) older age was associated with greater extensor deficits (Table 2). At 60 degrees/s (p=0.017) skeletal maturity was associated with greater extensor deficits (Table 2). At all speeds, an injured dominant limb was associated with smaller flexor deficits (Table 3). Older age was associated with greater flexor deficits at 60 deg/s (Table 3).Conclusion:No apparent significant isokinetic strength differences were found between groups 5-10 months postoperatively. Longer time from surgery was significantly associated with decreased extensor deficits among both groups at slower isokinetic test speeds. Our data suggest increased isokinetic strength recovery over the 5-10-month timeframe. The surgeon, anesthesia team, and patient should choose the pain management protocol based on resource and patient factors.Tables and Figures:Figure 1.Mean values (error bars represent 95% confidence intervals) for Peak Torque (ft-lb) extensor % deficits (% change between surgically affected and unaffected sides) between continuous femoral nerve block and single-shot femoral nerve block groups at each of the isokinetic test speeds.Figure 2.Mean values (error bars represent 95% confidence intervals) for Peak Torque (ft-lb) flexor % deficits (% change between surgically affected and unaffected sides) between continuous femoral nerve block and single-shot femoral nerve block groups at each of the isokinetic test speeds.

Femoral nerve catheters and limb strength asymmetry at 6 months after primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in pediatric patients.

The postoperative implications of single-injection femoral nerve blockade and femoral nerve catheter placement for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction are not well defined among pediatric patients. Femoral nerve blockade may be associated with deficits in quadriceps symmetry at 6months postoperative. We compared outcomes after primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery in pediatric patients who received either a single-injection femoral nerve block or femoral nerve catheter and a single-injection popliteal nerve block. We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients 10-19years of age who underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with quadriceps tendon-patellar bone autograft by a single orthopedic surgeon at two of our locations. Of 88 patients analyzed, 31 received single-injection femoral nerve blockade (52% female, mean age=15.6±1.8years) and 57 received femoral nerve catheter (53% female, mean age=15.6±1.7years). Time from surgery to return-to-sport clearance and movement symmetry were compared between groups at approximately 6months postoperatively. The single-injection femoral nerve blockade group exhibited significantly greater single-leg squat symmetry than did the femoral nerve catheter group (95.5±6.7% vs 88.3±9.3%; P= 0.02; mean difference=7.2%, 95% CI=-1.1, 13.3) 6months postoperatively. There was no difference in time from surgery to return-to-sport clearance between groups (median=247 [interquartile range=218-295] days vs 268 [241-331] days; P= 0.22; mean difference=40days; 95% CI=-23, 102). Though time to return to sport did not differ, patients in the femoral nerve catheter group exhibited greater single-leg squat asymmetry than did those in the femoral nerve blockade group approximately 6months postoperatively. Persistent functional deficits may be important to consider when treating pediatric patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

The efficacy of continuous versus single-injection femoral nerve block in Total knee Arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundContinuous femoral nerve block (cFNB) has been developed to extend the analgesic effect since the efficacy of single-injection femoral nerve block (sFNB) is often limited to approximately 16–24 h. The aim of this meta-analysis was to validate the add-on effect of cFNB in the setting of a multimodal analgesic protocol.MethodsWe performed a comprehensive literature review on Web of Science, Embase, the Cochrane Library and PubMed. Eight randomized controlled trials (N = 626) that compared the efficacy of cFNB with sFNB were included. The primary outcome domains consist of visual analog scale (VAS) score at postoperative 24 and 48 h. The secondary outcome domains include opioid consumption, length of hospital stay and incidence of nausea.ResultsOur analysis revealed that cFNB was associated with a lower VAS score at 24 h (SMD: -0.277;95% CI − 0.503 to − 0.05). However, the difference of VAS score did not meet the minimal clinically importance difference for total knee arthroplasty (TKA). VAS score at 48 h was similar between the cFNB and sFNB group. The cFNB group was associated with less amount of opioids consumed at both 24(SMD: -1.056;95% CI − 1.737 to − 0.375) and 48 h(SMD: -1.040;95% CI − 1.790 to − 0.289). Length of hospital stay and incidence of nausea were similar between the two groups.ConclusionIn the setting of a multimodal analgesic protocol, patients might benefit from cFNB with regards to a reduced need of opioids in the early postoperative period. However, we did not find a clinically significant difference in pain scores at different time points between the cFNB and sFNB group.Level of evidenceI; meta-analysis.

Epidural morphine improves postoperative analgesia in patients after total knee arthroplasty: A randomized controlled trial.

BackgroundPatients after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) often develop moderate to severe pain. This study compared the analgesic effect of low-dose epidural morphine vs. a comparable saline injection in patients following TKA surgery.MethodsThis randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled trial was conducted in a tertiary hospital in Beijing between July 1, 2017 and May 30, 2018. One hundred and ten patients following TKA under combined spinal-epidural anesthesia were randomized to receive either epidural morphine (2 mg diluted to 5 ml normal saline, the epidural morphine group) or placebo (5 ml normal saline, the placebo group). For all patients, single-injection femoral nerve block was performed, and a supplementary patient-controlled intravenous analgesia pump was provided. The severity of pain was assessed with the numerical rating scale (NRS, an 11-point scale where 0 = no pain and 10 = the worst pain) at 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hours after surgery. The primary endpoint was moderate to severe pain (NRS pain score ≥4) within 48 hours after surgery.ResultsThe percentage with moderate to severe pain within 48 hours was lower in the epidural morphine group than in the placebo group (58.2% [32/55] with epidural morphine vs. 76.4% [42/55] with placebo; OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.19–0.98; p = 0.042). Furthermore, the cumulative morphine consumption within 48 hours was lower (18.4±6.1 mg vs. 22.4±7.3 mg; p = 0.002) whereas the mental component summary score of 30-day quality of life was higher (63.8±2.9 vs. 61.9±4.2; p = 0.008) in the epidural morphine group than in the placebo group.ConclusionsFor patients following TKA, the addition of epidural morphine to single-injection femoral nerve block improves the quality of analgesia within 48 hours, without increasing adverse events.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT03203967.

A Practical Analgesia Approach to Fragility Hip Fracture: A Single-Center, Retrospective, Cohort Study on Femoral Nerve Block.

To determine whether an effective opioid-sparing pain control modality is desirable for an aging population. Retrospective observational study SETTING:: Academic medical center PATIENTS:: 192 patients with various types of fragility hip fractures INTERVENTION:: A single-injection femoral nerve block (FNB) MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS:: Pain score, opioid consumption RESULTS:: We observed statistically significant effects of FNB on visual analogue scale pain score and the rate of opioid consumption diminution in all commonly encountered types of fragility hip fractures. The pain score reduction by FNB in subcapital femoral neck fracture, transcervical femoral neck facture, and intertrochanteric fracture are all statistically significant (P < 0.0001). There was a statistically more significant pain score reduction in intracapsular fractures than in extracapsular fractures (P = 0.006). On average, the hip fracture patients required 0.9 and 0.1 mg morphine equivalent/hour before and after FNB block placement. This decrease in opioid consumption when calculated per unit time was statistically significant in subcapital femoral neck fracture, transcervical femoral neck facture, and intertrochanteric fracture (P < 0.0001). There were no complications related to FNB placement. FNB is a sustainable, safe, and useful analgesic modality for commonly encountered fragility hip fractures. Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Additional femoral nerve block analgesia does not reduce the chronic pain after total knee arthroplasty: A retrospective study in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Femoral nerve block analgesia was deemed to the gold standard for acute pain management after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). But effect on chronic pain management is not investigated fully. We conducted a retrospective study to explore the effect of single-injection femoral nerve block on postsurgical chronic pain.All medical records of patients undertaking TKA between January, 2013 and June, 2014 were reviewed via the Docare anesthesia database. Patients who administrated with the self-controlled intravenous analgesia were assigned to group P. Patients who received a single-injection femoral never block combined with patient self-controlled intravenous analgesia were assigned to group N + P. The visual analog scale (VAS) score before surgery, the first postoperative day (POD 1), POD 2, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after surgery were extracted from medical records. Pain score was compared over these 2 groups to investigate treatment outcomes.In all, 470 patients met the selection criteria for group P and 266 patients met the selection criteria for group N + P. Compared with group P, the VAS score decreased significantly in group N + P at POD 1 (P < .001), and the same was observed at POD 2 (P < .001); the moderate to severe pain incidence rate decreased significantly in group N + P at POD 1 (P < .01) and POD 2 (motion, P < .001). The rescued anesthesia rate reduced significantly in group N + P in POD 1 (P = .001), whereas no difference was found in POD 2 (P = .864). No difference was found at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery (all P > .05).The single-injection femoral nerve block could relieve the acute postsurgical pain in a short period of time. But no evidence was found that it could reduce the chronic pain between 3 and 12 months after TKA.

Effectiveness of continuous versus single injection femoral nerve block for total knee arthroplasty: A double blinded, randomized trial

BackgroundEffective analgesia following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is important for maximizing patient satisfaction, early participation in physical therapy and reducing the hospital stay. This trial compared continuous catheter femoral nerve block (cFNB) to single injection femoral nerve block (sFNB) in terms of analgesia, opioid consumption, and participation in physical therapy and associated side effects. MethodsThis randomized, double blinded trial was conducted in a non-university hospital setting, without major changes to anesthesia or surgical clinical pathways. A total of 85 patients scheduled for primary TKA were randomized to receive either cFNB (n=44) or sFNB (n=41). All patients had FNB with 0.5% ropivacaine bolus followed by subarachnoid block for surgery. Postoperatively, 0.2% ropivacaine infusion was commenced in cFNB group and a sham catheter was taped to the skin in sFNB group. All patients received a structured multimodal analgesia regimen throughout hospital stay. The primary outcomes were peak resting visual analogue scale (VAS) scores and morphine consumption at 48h postoperatively. ResultsVAS scores (Mean difference 0.25, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) −0.56 to 1.06; [P=0.196]) and morphine consumption (Mean difference 0.95mg, 95% CI −9.99 to 11.89; [P=0.863]) were not significantly different among patients who received cFNB versus sFNB at 48h. There was no difference in hospital stay (P=0.517) or long-term functional recovery between the two groups (P=0.385). ConclusionssFNB block provides equal pain relief compared with cFNB, after TKA with no significant difference in opioid consumption, hospital stay, physical therapy outcomes or associated side effects.

Pain Management After Hip Arthroscopy: Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials and Cohort Studies

Background: Hip arthroscopy is often associated with significant postoperative pain and opioid-associated side effects. Effective pain management after hip arthroscopy improves patient recovery and satisfaction and decreases opioid-related complications. Purpose: To collect, examine, and provide a comprehensive review of the available evidence from randomized controlled trials and comparative studies on pain control after hip arthroscopy. Study Design: Systematic review. Methods: Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines, a systematic review of the literature for postoperative pain control after hip arthroscopy was performed using electronic databases. Only comparative clinical studies with level 1 to 3 evidence comparing a method of postoperative pain control with other modalities or placebo were included in this review. Case series and studies without a comparative cohort were excluded. Results: Several methods of pain management have been described for hip arthroscopy. A total of 14 studies met our inclusion criteria: 3 on femoral nerve block, 3 on lumbar plexus block, 3 on fascia iliaca block, 4 on intra-articular injections, 2 on soft tissue surrounding surgical site injection, and 2 on celecoxib (4 studies compared 2 or more methods of analgesia). The heterogeneity of the studies did not allow for pooling of data. Single-injection femoral nerve blocks and lumbar plexus blocks provided improved analgesia, but increased fall rates were observed. Fascia iliaca blocks do not provide adequate pain relief when compared with surgical site infiltration with local anesthetic and are associated with increased risk of cutaneous nerve deficits. Patients receiving lumbar plexus block experienced significantly decreased pain compared with fascia iliaca block. Portal site and periacetabular injections provide superior analgesia compared with intra-articular injections alone. Preoperative oral celecoxib, compared with placebo, resulted in earlier time to discharge and provided significant pain relief up to 24 hours. Conclusion: Perioperative nerve blocks provide effective pain management after hip arthroscopy but must be used with caution to decrease risk of falls. Intra-articular and portal site injections with local anesthetics and preoperative celecoxib can decrease opioid consumption. There is a lack of high-quality evidence on this topic, and further research is needed to determine the best approach to manage postoperative pain and optimize patient satisfaction.

Femoral versus Multiple Nerve Blocks for Analgesia after Total Knee Arthroplasty.

BackgroundThe PROSPECT (Procedure-Specific Postoperative Pain Management) Group recommended a single injection femoral nerve block in 2008 as a guideline for analgesia after total knee arthroplasty. Other authors have recommended the addition of sciatic and obturator nerve blocks. The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve is also involved in pain syndrome following total knee arthroplasty. We hypothesized that preoperative blocking of all four nerves would offer superior analgesia to femoral nerve block alone.MethodsThis is a prospective, randomized, controlled, and observer-blinded clinical study. A total of 107 patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a femoral nerve block group, a multiple nerve block group, and a control group. All patients were treated postoperatively using patient-controlled intravenous analgesia with morphine. Pain intensity at rest, during flexion and extension, and morphine consumption were compared between groups over three days.ResultsA total of 90 patients completed the study protocol. Patients who received multiple nerve blocks experienced superior analgesia and had reduced morphine consumption during the postoperative period compared to the other two groups. Pain intensity during flexion was significantly lower in the “blocks” groups versus the control group. Morphine consumption was significantly higher in the control group.ConclusionsPain relief after total knee arthroplasty immediately after surgery and on the first postoperative day was significantly superior in patients who received multiple blocks preoperatively, with morphine consumption significantly lower during this period. A preoperative femoral nerve block alone produced partial and insufficient analgesia immediately after surgery and on the first postoperative day. (Clinical trial registration number (NIH): NCT01303120)

Efficacy of adductor canal block combined with infiltration anesthesia for postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of adductor canal block combined with infiltration anesthesia for postoperative analgesia in the patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty. Methods Sixty patients of both sexes, aged 65-80 yr, weighing 40-80 kg, of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical statusⅠ or Ⅱ, scheduled for elective unilateral total knee arthroplasty, were divided into 3 groups (n=20 each) using a random number table: single-injection adductor canal block + infiltration anesthesia group (group A), single-injection femoral nerve block + infiltration anesthesia group (group F), and infiltration anesthesia group (group I). Ultrasound-guided adductor canal block and femoral nerve block were performed with 0.5% ropivacaine 20 ml before induction of anesthesia in A and F groups, respectively.After completion of the block, all the patients were ventilated through the laryngeal mask airway under general anesthesia.After installation of the knee prosthesis, local infiltration anesthesia was conducted with 0.2% ropivacaine 50 ml around the knee joint.Acetaminophen oxycodone capsule was taken orally one pill every 6 h starting from the morning on 1st day after surgery.When visual analogue scale (VAS) score > 5, tramadol 100 mg was injected intramuscularly as rescue analgesic.At 4, 8, 24, 48 and 72 h after surgery, VAS scores at rest and during activity were recorded, the quadriceps strength was measured, and the requirement for analgesic drugs and development of adverse reactions were recorded. Results Compared with group I, VAS scores at rest and during activity were significantly decreased at 4, 8, and 24 h after surgery, and the consumption of tramadol was significantly decreased after surgery in A and F groups (P<0.05). The quadriceps strength at 4 and 8 h after surgery was significantly higher in A and I groups than in group F (P<0.05). No patients developed serious adverse reactions in the three groups. Conclusion Adductor canal block combined with infiltration anesthesia provides reliable efficacy for postoperative analgesia with little influence on the quadriceps strength in the patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty. Key words: Arthroplasty, replacement, knee; Nerve block; Adductor canal; Femoral nerve; Analgesia

Pain Management After Outpatient Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Background: Effective pain management after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction improves patient satisfaction and function. Purpose: To collect and evaluate the available evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on pain control after ACL reconstruction. Study Design: Systematic review. Methods: A systematic literature review was performed using PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar, UpToDate, Cochrane Reviews, CINAHL, and Scopus following PRISMA guidelines (July 2014). Only RCTs comparing a method of postoperative pain control to another method or placebo were included. Results: A total of 77 RCTs met inclusion criteria: 14 on regional nerve blocks, 21 on intra-articular injections, 4 on intramuscular/intravenous injections, 12 on multimodal regimens, 6 on oral medications, 10 on cryotherapy/compression, 6 on mobilization, and 5 on intraoperative techniques. Single-injection femoral nerve blocks provided superior analgesia to placebo for up to 24 hours postoperatively; however, this also resulted in a quadriceps motor deficit. Indwelling femoral catheters utilized for 2 days postoperatively provided superior analgesia to a single-injection femoral nerve block. Local anesthetic injections at the surgical wound site or intra-articularly provided equivalent analgesia to regional nerve blocks. Continuous-infusion catheters of a local anesthetic provided adequate pain relief but have been shown to cause chondrolysis. Cryotherapy improved analgesia compared to no cryotherapy in 4 trials, while in 4 trials, ice water and water at room temperature provided equivalent analgesic effects. Early weightbearing decreased pain compared to delayed weightbearing. Oral gabapentin given preoperatively and oral zolpidem given for the first week postoperatively each decreased opioid consumption as compared to placebo. Ibuprofen reduced pain compared to acetaminophen. Oral ketorolac reduced pain compared to hydrocodone-acetaminophen. Conclusion: Regional nerve blocks and intra-articular injections are both effective forms of analgesia. Cryotherapy-compression appears to be beneficial, provided that intra-articular temperatures are sufficiently decreased. Early mobilization reduces pain symptoms. Gabapentin, zolpidem, ketorolac, and ibuprofen decrease opioid consumption. Despite the vast amount of high-quality evidence on this topic, further research is needed to determine the optimal multimodal approach that can maximize recovery while minimizing pain and opioid consumption. Clinical Relevance: These results provide the best available evidence from RCTs on pain control regimens after ACL reconstruction.

Efficacy of preoperative femoral nerve block for preemptive analgesia in elderly patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty under general anesthesia

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of preoperative femoral nerve block on preemptive analgesia in the elderly patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty under general anesthesia. Methods Sixty ASA physical statusⅠ-Ⅲ patients of both sexes, aged 65-75 yr, scheduled for elective total knee arthroplasty, were randomly divided into 3 groups(n=20 each)using a random number table: control group(group Ⅰ), preoperative femoral nerve block group(group Ⅱ)and postoperative femoral nerve block group(group Ⅲ). Single-injection femoral nerve block was performed with 0.375% ropivacaine 20 ml injected around the nerve under the guidance of ultrasound immediately before induction of anesthesia and at the end of surgery in Ⅱ and Ⅲ groups, respectively.Patient-controlled intravenous analgesia(PCIA)with sufentanil(background infusion 2 ml/h, bolus dose 2 ml, lockout interval 15 min)was used until 2 days after surgery, and VAS score was maintained ≤3.When VAS score>3, flurbiprofen axetil 50 mg was injected intravenously as rescue medication.The consumption of sufentanil per hour, requirement for rescue medication, and development of adverse reactions were recorded within 24 h after surgery.Sufentanil-sparing degree was calculated. Results Compared with group Ⅰ, the consumption of sufentanil per hour, requirement for rescue medication and the incidence of nausea and vomiting were significantly decreased within 24 h after surgery in Ⅱ and Ⅲ groups.The consumption of sufentanil per hour, requirement for rescue medication and the incidence of nausea and vomiting were significantly lower within 24 h after surgery in group Ⅱ than in group Ⅲ.The consumption of sufentanil per hour was decreased by 35% in group Ⅱ as compared with group Ⅰ, and decreased by 18% in group Ⅱ as compared with group Ⅲ. Conclusion Preoperative femoral nerve block can provide good preemptive analgesia in the elderly patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty under general anesthesia. Key words: Nerve block; Analgesia; Aged; Anesthesia, general; Arthroplasty, replacement, knee

Electronic Ordering System Improves Postoperative Pain Management After Total Knee or Hip Arthroplasty.

The authors investigated the impact of computerized provider order entry (CPOE) on the delivery times of analgesia and subsequent patient outcomes. We hypothesized that patients would report less pain and use less pain medications compared with the previous paper-based system. Two groups of patients after a total hip (THA) or knee arthroplasty (TKA) were retrospectively compared: one comprising 106 patients when the paper-based ordering system was in effect (conventional group), and one comprising 96 patients after CPOE was installed (electronic group). All patients received a regional anaesthetic at surgery (combined spinal-epidural). TKA patients also received a single-injection femoral nerve block. After transfer to the postoperative anaesthesia care unit (PACU), a patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) infusion was initiated. The following data was collected from the PACU record: time to initiation of analgesia, visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores at initiation of analgesia and hourly for the first postoperative day (POD), volume of pain medication used, length of stay (LOS) in the PACU and the hospital. The time to initiation of analgesia from arrival in the PACU was significantly lower in the electronic group compared to the conventional group (24.5 ± 28.3 minutes vs. 51.1 ± 26.2 minutes; mean ± SD, p < 0.001), as were VAS pain scores (0.82 ± 1.08 vs. 1.5 ± 1.52, p < 0.001) and the volume of PCEA needed to control pain (27.9 ± 20.2 ml vs. 34.8 ± 20.3 ml, p = 0.001) at 4 hours postoperatively. PACU LOS and hospital LOS did not significantly differ in the two groups. After implementation of CPOE, patients received their postoperative analgesia faster, had less pain, and required less medication.

Analgesic Effect of Femoral Nerve Block on Postoperative Pain and Ambulation after Total Knee Arthroplasty

Objectives:Determine the analgesic effect of a single injection femoral nerve block on postoperative pain and ambulation, after total knee arthroplasty.Methods:In a prospective study, 84 patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty were randomly assigned to receive: either one single injection femoral nerve block and 100mg paracetamol combined with lornoxicam 4 mg administrated twice intravenously for 5 days (group 1, n=42) or only the aforementioned analgesics without nerve block for the same period (group 2, n=42). Distance walked on 5 first postoperative days and VAS pain score during first 5 days were reported. Patients with bilateral osteoarthritis, previous leg injury or serious cardiovascular disease were excluded. Statistical analysis was performed by statistical packet STATA 8.0 and significance was set at p-value <0.05.Results:Patients of group 1 walked longer distance than patients of group 2 on postoperative day 1, 2 and 3 (p<0.05).The VAS pain score decreased significantly from 7.8/10 to 4.1./10 in Group 1 (P<0.05) and from average 8.1/10 to 5.9/10 in Group 2 (p<0.05) at 5 days after surgery. Patients of group 1 experienced less pain than patients of group2 at 5 days after surgery according to VAS pain score (p<0.05).Conclusion:Single shot of femoral nerve block provides efficient pain relief on early postoperative period after total knee arthroplasty. This is associated with better ambulatory performance.

Functional Discharge Readiness and Mobility Following Total Knee Arthroplasty for Osteoarthritis: A Comparison of Analgesic Techniques

To determine if functional discharge readiness and mobility following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for osteoarthritis is delayed after femoral nerve block (FNB) with or without patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) opioid compared with PCA opioid alone. We analyzed secondary outcomes from a randomized controlled trial with 200 patients undergoing unilateral TKA. Experimental group 1 received single-injection FNB with intravenous PCA opioid, experimental group 2 received continuous FNB, and the control group received PCA opioid alone. FNB was administered using bupivacaine. Patients followed a structured TKA pathway. Discharge readiness outcomes included achievement of 90° knee flexion, independent walking, and stair climbing, and were assessed daily before discharge or day 6, whichever came first. Mobility outcomes included the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, the 6-Minute Walk Distance (6MWD), and self-reported physical function, and were assessed at weeks 2 and 12. TUG was also assessed on days 3 to 6, postoperation. Both FNB groups (77%) were more likely to achieve 90° knee flexion compared with the control group (59%); odds ratio (OR) 2.3, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.1, 4.8 for single-injection FNB, and OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.1, 4.9 for continuous FNB. There were no significant differences in independent walking and stair-climbing ability before discharge, TUG, 6MWD, or self-reported physical function, between the FNB groups compared with the control group. After TKA, FNB (single-injection with PCA opioid or continuous) does not delay achievement of 90° knee flexion or other measures of functional discharge readiness and mobility compared with PCA opioid alone.

Continuous ultrasound-guided adductor canal block for total knee arthroplasty: a randomized, double-blind trial.

Adductor canal blocks have shown promise in reducing postoperative pain in total knee arthroplasty patients. No randomized, controlled studies, however, evaluate the opioid-sparing benefits of a continuous 0.2% ropivacaine infusion at the adductor canal. We hypothesized that a continuous adductor canal block would decrease postoperative opioid consumption. Eighty subjects presenting for primary unilateral total knee arthroplasty were randomized to receive either a continuous ultrasound-guided adductor canal block with 0.2% ropivacaine or a sham catheter. All subjects received a preoperative single-injection femoral nerve block with spinal anesthesia as is standard of care at our institution. Cumulative IV morphine consumption 48 hours after surgery was evaluated with analysis of covariance, adjusted for baseline characteristics. Secondary outcomes included resting pain scores (numeric rating scale), peak pain scores during physical therapy on postoperative days 1 and 2, quadriceps maximum voluntary isometric contraction, distance ambulated during physical therapy, postoperative nausea and vomiting, and satisfaction with analgesia. Eighty subjects were randomized, and 76 completed the study per-protocol. The least-square mean difference in cumulative morphine consumption over 48 hours (block-sham) was--16.68 mg (95% confidence interval, -29.78 to -3.59, P = 0.013). Total morphine use between 24 and 48 hours (after predicted femoral nerve block resolution) also differed by least-square mean -11.17 mg (95% confidence interval,: -19.93 to -2.42, P = 0.013). Intention-to-treat analysis was similar to the per-protocol results. Functional outcomes revealed subjects in the adductor canal catheter group had better quadriceps strength (P = 0.010) and further distance ambulated (P = 0.034) on postoperative day 2. A continuous adductor canal block for total knee arthroplasty reduces opioid consumption compared with that of placebo in the first 48 hours after surgery. Other outcomes including quadriceps strength, distance ambulated, and pain scores all show benefit from an adductor canal catheter after total knee arthroplasty but require further study before being interpreted as conclusive.

Ultrasound-guided single-injection femoral nerve block provides effective analgesia after total knee arthroplasty up to 48 hours.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of ultrasound (US) guided single-injection femoral nerve block (FNB) spinal anesthesia on pain control, morphine consumption, adverse effects, and patient satisfaction during the postoperative 48-hour period in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). One hundred four ASA physical status I-III patients undergoing single TKA for degenerative joint disease were enrolled in this clinical study. Patients were randomly distributed into two groups: US-guided single-injection FNB with 40 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine and 1:200,000 epinephrine was administered to Group F (n=51) patients. Preservative-free saline was injected in Group P (n=53) patients using the same method as Group F. Pain scores, morphine consumption, incidences of adverse events, and patient satisfaction were assessed over the course of 48 hours. Group F used significantly less morphine compared with Group P (18.7 mg vs. 39.6 mg) during the first 48 hours after surgery (p<0.001). When compared with group P, the VRS scores both at rest and during movement were significantly lower in Group F at 4, 8, 12, 24, and 48 hours after TKA (for all comparisons p<0.001). In addition, patient satisfaction was better in Group F than Group P. This study suggests that a US-guided single-injection femoral nerve block following TKA improves patient satisfaction and reduces consumption of morphine during the first 48 hours.