Adductor Canal Block Versus Periarticular Bupivicaine Injection in Total Knee Arthroplasty

Phase 4

Completed

Conditions: Osteoarthritis

Interventions: Drug: Bupivacaine

Registration Number: NCT02777749

Lead Sponsor: Columbia University

Brief Summary: The objective of the study is to compare the efficacy of adductor canal blocks versus periarticular bupivacaine injections for pain management in total knee arthroplasty. This randomized clinical trial will compare outcomes between adductor canal blocks, periarticular bupivacaine injections, and periarticular liposomal bupivacaine injections. Results from this study will help determine the most appropriate perioperative pain management strategy for patients undergoing a total knee arthroplasty.

Detailed Description: Over 600,000 total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) are performed each year in the United States, with expectations for greater than 4 million/year by the year 2030. Since the onset of TKAs in the 1960's, there have been developments that have improved both functionality and patient satisfaction. In the last decade, a focus has been made on multimodal pain management protocols, more rapid functional recovery, reduced length of hospital stay, and minimizing side effects of treatment while maintaining function and durability. The widespread use of regional anesthesia has led to improvements in pain control, more rapid functional recovery, and reduced length of stay. In recent years many surgeons have transitioned from femoral nerve blocks (proximal femoral nerve) to adductor canal blocks (distal femoral nerve) to maintain a sensory block for pain control, while minimizing any motor blockade that is typically seen in proximal femoral nerve blocks, which would hamper rehabilitation, and increase risk of falls. In addition to regional blocks, which are typically performed in the preoperative setting, some surgeons favor an intraoperative periarticular anesthetic injection (PAI), typically with bupivacaine or the long acting form liposomal bupivacaine, either in conjunction with an adductor canal block, or independently. In theory, PAI has the advantage of a comparable sensory nerve block as an adductor canal block, without the disadvantages and risks, which include prolonged quadriceps weakness, fall risk, and neurologic dysfunction.

The purpose of this randomized control trial is to compare the efficacy of adductor canal blocks versus periarticular bupivacaine injections for pain management in total knee arthroplasty.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 155

Inclusion Criteria

Patients undergoing an unilateral primary total knee arthroplasty under the care of the two senior arthroplasty surgeons.

Exclusion Criteria

Allergy to bupivicaine or liposomal bupivicaine.

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Adductor Canal Block	Bupivacaine	15 cc's of 0.5% bupivacaine preoperatively administered by the regional pain anesthesia team in the pre-operative block area, just prior to surgery. Adductor Canal Block (ACB)
Periarticular SB	Bupivacaine	50 cc's of 0.25% bupivacaine will be injected intraoperatively, just prior to wound closure, by the performing surgeon.
ACB + SB	Bupivacaine	15 cc's of 0.5% bupivacaine preoperatively administered by the regional pain anesthesia team in the pre-operative block area, just prior to surgery. 50 cc's of 0.25% bupivacaine will be injected intraoperatively, just prior to wound closure, by the performing surgeon.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in VAS Pain Scores	Day 0 through Day 3	Post-operatively, visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores will be recorded two times/day from Post-Operative Day (POD) 0 through POD3. VAS Scores range from 0 to 10, with 0 being "No Pain" and 10 being the "Worst Pain"

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Opioid Consumption	Day 0 through Day 3	Total amount of opioid consumption post-operatively will be recorded. The less opioids consumed (mg) postoperatively the better. A morphine equivalence metric will be used for equianalgesic comparison. Minimum is 0 mg, maximum is unlimited.
Range of Knee Flexion	Postoperative day 21	Range of knee flexion for active motion will be recorded at 3 week follow-up for all groups. The greater range of motion the better, with a good outcome considered at least 115 degrees of motion.
Length of Hospital Stay	Up to Day 5	Total length of hospital stay from time of surgery through time of discharge will be recorded. The shorter the length of stay (days) the better. Range 0 days to 5 days.
Change in Activity Level	Day 0 and Day 1	Daily steps taken will be recorded. The more steps taken daily the better. Minimum is 0 steps, maximum is unlimited.