Objective To investigate the effect of adductor canal block combined with local infiltration anesthesia on the rehabilitation of primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods A total of 104 patients who met the selection criteria for the first unilateral TKA between March 2017 and August 2017 were included in the study. They were randomly divided into trial group (53 cases) and control group (51 cases). In the trial group, the adductor canal block with intraoperative local infiltration anesthesia were performed. In the control group, only intraoperative local infil-tration anesthesia was performed. There was no significant difference in gender, age, body mass index, diagnosis, effected side, and the preoperative American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grading between 2 groups (P>0.05). The operation time, length of stay, and complications were compared between 2 groups, as well as visual analogue scale (VAS) score of incision at rest and during activity, the range of motion (ROM) of knee flexion and extension activity, limb swelling (thigh circumference), walking distance, and pain VAS score while walking. Results The operation time of the trial group was significantly shorter than that of the control group (t=–2.861, P=0.005). However, there was no significant difference in length of stay between 2 groups (t=–0.975, P=0.332). The wound effusion occurred in 1 patient of trial group and 2 of control group; hematoma occurred in 2 patients of trial group and 3 of control group; no symptom of intermuscular venous thrombosis occurred in 1 patient in each of 2 groups; ecchymosis occurred in 14 patients of trial group and 15 of control group; there was no significant difference in the incidence of related complications between 2 groups (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the preoperative VAS score at rest and during activity, ROM of knee flexion and extension activity, and thigh circumference between 2 groups (P>0.05). However, there were significant differences in the VAS score at rest and during activity after 2, 4, 8, and 12 hours, ROM of knee flexion and extension activity after 1 and 2 days, and the walking distance on the day of discharge, pain VAS scores while walking after 1 and 2 days and on the day of discharge, and thigh circumference after 1 day between 2 groups (P<0.05). Conclusion For the primary TKA, the adductor canal block combined with local infiltration anesthesia can early relieve the initial pain of the incision, shorten the operation time, and promote the mobility and functional recovery of the knee joint.
Objective To compare the early analgesic effects and the impact on knee joint function recovery after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) between single adductor canal block (SACB) and continuous adductor canal block (CACB) combined with local infiltration anesthesia (LIA) using a prospective study. Methods The patients with knee osteoarthritis admitted between April 2022 and December 2023 were enrolled as a subject. Among them, 60 patients met the selection criteria and were enrolled in the study. They were randomly assigned to the SACB group or CACB group in a ratio of 1:1 using a random number table method. There was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05) in terms of age, gender, height, body mass, body mass index, affected side, and preoperative resting visual analogue scale (VAS) score and active VAS score, Oxford knee score (OKS), and American Hospital of Special Surgery (HSS) score. All patients received multimodal analgesia management using LIA combined with SACB or CACB. The operation time, pain related indicators (resting and activity VAS scores, number and timing of breakthrough pain, opioid consumption), joint function related indicators (quadriceps muscle strength, knee range of motion, OKS score, and HSS score), as well as postoperative block complications and adverse events were recorded and compared between the two groups. Results There was no significant difference in the operation time between the two groups (P<0.05). All patients in the two groups were followed up with a follow-up time of (9.70±4.93) months in the SACB group and (12.23±5.05) months in the CACB group, and the difference was not significant (P>0.05). The CACB group had a significant lower resting VAS score at 24 hours after operation compared to the SACB group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in resting and active VAS scores between the two groups at other time points (P>0.05). The CACB group had a significantly lower incidence of breakthrough pain compared to the SACB group [9 cases (30.00%) vs. 17 cases (56.67%); P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the timing of breakthrough pain occurrence and opioid consumption between the two groups (P>0.05). Four cases in the SACB group and 7 cases in the CACB group experienced adverse events, with no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events between the two groups (P>0.05). The CACB group had significantly better knee joint mobility than the SACB group at 1 and 2 days after operation (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in knee joint mobility on 0 day after operation and quadriceps muscle strength and OKS and HSS scores at different time points (P>0.05). Conclusion In UKA, the analgesic effects and knee joint function recovery are similar when compared between LIA combined with SACB and LIA combined with CACB. However, SACB is simpler to perform and can avoid adverse events such as catheter displacement and dislocation. Therefore, SACB may be a better choice.