The additional effects of a continuous adductor canal block (ACB) compared with a single-dose local infiltration anesthesia (LIA) after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has not been widely researched. Both methods have good effect individually. We hypothesized that a continuous ACB added to a single-dose LIA would lower pain scores while ambulating on postoperative day 1 (POD1) and postoperative day 2 (POD2).
69 participants were included in this prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The TKA was performed under spinal analgesia and every participant was given single-dose LIA intraoperatively. Patients were then randomized into 2 groups, treatment group receiving 0.2% ropivacaine and control group receiving normal saline. First a 20 mL bolus was given into the adductor canal and 4 hours later a continuous flow at 6 mL/h was initiated for 2 postoperative days through a catheter placed in the adductor canal.