The Effect of Continuous Adductor Canal Block Combined with Distal Interspace Between the Popliteal Artery and Capsule of the Posterior Knee Block for Total Knee Arthroplasty: a Randomized, Double-blind, Controlled Trial

Background: The optimal analgesia for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) requires excellent analgesia while preserving muscle strength. This study aimed to determine the hypothesis that continuous adductor canal block (CACB) combined with the distal interspace between the popliteal artery and the posterior capsule of the knee (IPACK) block could effectively alleviate the pain of the posterior knee, decrease opioids consumption, and promote early recovery and discharge.

Methods: Patients undergoing unilateral, primary TKA were allocated into group CACB+SHAM (receiving CACB plus sham block) or group CACB+IPACK (receiving CACB plus IPACK block). The primary outcome was cumulative opioid consumption. Secondary outcomes included the incidence of postoperative pain originated from the posterior knee, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, range of motion, ambulation distance, and satisfaction for pain management.

Results: The incidence of moderate-severe pain of the posterior knee was lower in group CACB+IPACK than that of the group CACB+SHAM at 4 hours (17.1% vs. 42.8%; p = 0.019), 8 hours (11.4% vs. 45.7%; p = 0.001), and 24 hours (11.4% vs. 34.3%; p = 0.046) after TKA. The VAS scores of the posterior knee were lower in group CACB+IPACK than that of the group CACB+SHAM at 4 hours [2 (2) vs. 3 (2-4); p = 0.000], 8 hours [1 (1, 2) vs. 3 (2-4); p = 0.001], and 24 hours [1(0-2) vs. 2 (1-4); p = 0.002] after TKA. The overall VAS scores were lower in group CACB+IPACK than that of the group CACB+SHAM at 4 hours [3 (2, 3) vs. 3 (3, 4); p = 0.013] and 8 hours [2 (2, 3) vs. 3 (2-4); p = 0.032] at rest and 4 hours [3 (3, 4) vs. 4 (4, 5); p = 0.001], 8 hours [3 (2-4) vs. 4 (3-5); p = 0.000], 24 hours [2 (2, 3) vs. 3 (2-4); p = 0.001] during active flexion after TKA. The range of motion (59.11 ± 3.90 vs. 53.83 ± 5.86; p = 0.000) and ambulation distance (44.60 ± 4.87 vs. 40.83 ± 6.65; p = 0.009) were superior in group CACB+IPACK than that of the group CACB+SHAM in postoperative day 1. The satisfaction for pain management was higher in group CACB+IPACK than that of the group CACB+SHAM [9 (8, 9) vs. 8 (7-9); p = 0.024]. There was no difference in term of cumulative opioids consumption between group CACB+IPACK and group CACB+SHAM [120(84-135) vs. 120(75-135); p = 0.835].

Conclusion: The combination of CACB and distal IPACK block could decrease the incidences of moderate-severe posterior knee pain, improve the postoperative pain over the first 24 hours after TKA, as well as promoting recovery of motor function. However, the opioids consumption was not decreased by adding distal IPACK to CACB.

Trial Registration: This study was registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ( ChiCTR2200059139 ; registration date: 26/04/2022; enrollment date: 16/11/2020; http://www.chictr.org.cn ).