Comparison of peri- and intraarticular analgesia with femoral nerve block after total knee arthroplasty: A randomized clinical trial

Figures & data

Figure 1. Infiltration of the anterior part of the capsule.

Figure 2. Flow chart of study. ^a Failure of spinal, hence conversion to general anesthesia.

Table 1.  Patient characteristics

Characteristic	Group F (n = 37)	Group I (n = 40)
Sex, n
female	22	25
male	15	15
Age, mean (SD) year	72 (9)	70 (9)
Body mass index,
mean (SD) kg/m2	29 (4)	29 (5)
ASA group a, n
I (normal healthy)	11	11
II (mild systemic disease)	22	28
III (severe systemic disease)	4	1
Did not receive NSAID due to
contraindications, n	10	18
Prosthesis, n
Maxim (Biomet)	22	21
Nexgen (Zimmer)	15	19

^a ASA group: Classification of the American Society of Anesthesiologists.

Table 2.  Pain levels, consumption of opioids, and mobilization

Outcome	Group F	Group I	P-value
Number of patients reporting pain scores ≥ 3
from surgery to the evening of POD 1 a
(9 measurements in all), n/N b
0–2 times	25/37	28/38	0.06
3–5 times	11/37	7/38
6–9 times	1/37	3/38
Median pain score (NRS) when worst during
physical therapy (IQR c), N
POD 1	5.0 (3–7), 35	3.0 (1–5), 38	0.001
POD 2	4.5 (2–6), 34	4.0 (3–6), 37	0.7
Median opioid consumption (in mg) converted
to oxycodone equivalents (IQR), N
Day of operation and POD 1	100 (90–115), 37	83 (80–100), 40	0.02
All 4 days	189 (165–210), 37	180 (150–190), 40	0.08
Mobilization POD 1
Able to walk < 3 meters, n/N	7/37	29/39	< 0.001
Able to hold quadriceps
tension for < 5 sec, n/N	18/36	30/37	0.002
Median extension defect (IQR), N	10° (5–15), 37	5° (0–10), 40	0.008
Flexion < 90°, n/N	18/37	24/39	0.3
Mobilization POD 2
Able to walk < 3 meters, n/N	25/36	35/39	0.02
Able to lift leg for < 5 sec, n/N	22/36	31/37	0.01
Median extension defect (IQR), N	5° (0–10), 37	5° (0–10), 39	0.2
Flexion < 90°, n/N	17/36	24/40	0.5

^a POD 1: first postoperative day.

^b n: number of patients with the listed outcome; N: number of patients in the F/I group. N varies due to patients' inability to cooperate. Mann-Whitney test was performed on the original categories, not on the compressed data presented.

^c Interquartile range within parentheses

Figure 3. Occurrence of adverse effects. Patients are grouped according to the number of days they experienced nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and itching (0–4 days). There were 37 patients in group F and 39 in group I.