Analgesic Effects of Different Local Infiltration Anesthesia Techniques Combined with Femoral Nerve Block in Patients Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract

Objective

Pain after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) remains an unresolved problem. Femoral nerve block (FNB) could relieve pain; however, it alone is insufficient. The local infiltration anesthesia technique (LIA) has been suggested as a supplement to FNB. This study aimed to evaluate the analgesic effects of different LIA combined with FNB in TKA patients.

Methods

The femoral nerve was blocked with 0.375% ropivacaine 20mL, and all patients routinely received general anesthesia. The primary indicator was the proportion of patients who did not receive post-operative remedial analgesia. Seventy-eight patients were randomly assigned to PAI (periarticular injection combined with FNB), IAI (intra-articular injection combined with FNB), or control (FNB alone) groups. All patients underwent FNB under general anesthesia. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who did not receive additional postoperative analgesia within the first 48 h after surgery.

Results

Compared with the PAI and control groups, the IAI group had a higher proportion (69.23%) of patients who did not receive remedial analgesia within 48 hours after surgery (P = 0.009; P = 0.009), a lower consumption of diclofenac sodium lidocaine (P = 0.021; P < 0.001), and an earlier time of walking with a walker (P < 0.001; P < 0.001). The time of first need for remedial analgesia postoperatively in IAI group was longer than the PAI group (P = 0.008) and IAI group has a shorter hospital stay than the control group (P = 0.008). The maximum NRS during the first 48 hours postoperatively and NRS 24 hours after surgery in the IAI group were lower than those in the control and PAI groups. The incidences of POD and PONV were similar among the three groups (P = 0.610; P = 0.264).

Conclusion

When combined with FNB, intra-articular injection offers a superior analgesic effect and favorable recovery compared to periarticular injection and separate application of FNB.

Keywords:

• analgesia
• local infiltration anesthesia
• nerve block
• total knee arthroplasty

Data Sharing Statement Indicating

The individual participant data will be available. The data specifically includes individual participant data that underlie the results reported in this article, after de-identification (text, tables, figures). No other documents will be available. Under reasonable requirements, the data of this study can be obtained from the corresponding author and the data will be available beginning 9 months and ending 36 months following article publication.

Acknowledgments

The research team greatly appreciated funding support and research participants for their cooperation and support.

Disclosure

None of the authors have any conflicts of interest to declare.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81870837).