Current advancements in therapeutic approaches in orthopedic surgery: a review of recent trends

Recent advancements in orthopedic surgery have greatly improved the management of musculoskeletal disorders and injuries. This review discusses the latest therapeutic approaches that have emerged in orthopedics. We examine the use of regenerative medicine, including stem cell therapy and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, to accelerate healing and promote tissue regeneration. Additionally, we explore the application of robotic-assisted surgery, which provides greater precision and accuracy during surgical procedures. We also delve into the emergence of personalized medicine, which tailors treatments to individual patients based on their unique genetic and environmental factors. Furthermore, we discuss telemedicine and remote patient monitoring as methods for improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs. Finally, we examine the growing interest in using artificial intelligence and machine learning in orthopedics, particularly in diagnosis and treatment planning. Overall, these advancements in therapeutic approaches have significantly improved patient outcomes, reduced recovery times, and enhanced the overall quality of care in orthopedic surgery.

Analgesic efficacy of local infiltration anaesthesia versus femoral nerve block in alleviating postoperative wound pain following total knee arthroplasty: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) often involves significant postoperative pain, necessitating effective analgesia. This meta-analysis compares the analgesic efficacy of local infiltration anaesthesia (LIA) and femoral nerve block (FNB) in managing postoperative wound pain following TKA. Adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, this meta-analysis was structured around the PICO framework, assessing studies that directly compared LIA and FNB in TKA patients. A comprehensive search across PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library was conducted without time restrictions. Studies were included based on specific criteria such as participant demographics, study design and outcomes like pain scores and opioid consumption. Quality assessment utilized the Cochrane Collaboration's risk of bias tool. The statistical approach was determined based on heterogeneity, with the choice of fixed- or random-effects models guided by the I2 statistic. Sensitivity analysis and evaluation of publication bias using funnel plots and Egger's linear regression test were also conducted. From an initial pool of 1275 articles, eight studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies conducted in various countries from 2007 to 2016. The meta-analysis showed no significant difference in resting and movement-related Visual Analogue Scale scores post-TKA between the LIA and FNB groups. However, LIA was associated with significantly lower opioid consumption. The quality assessment revealed a low risk of bias in most studies, and the sensitivity analysis confirmed the stability of these findings. There was no significant publication bias detected. Both LIA and FNB are effective in controlling postoperative pain in TKA patients, but LIA offers the advantage of lower opioid consumption. Its simplicity, cost-effectiveness and opioid-sparing nature make LIA the recommended choice for postoperative analgesia in knee replacement surgeries.

Non-drainage Offers Faster Proprioceptive and Functional Recovery, and More Clinical Benefits for Patients following Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty Compared to Drainage

BACKGROUND

Although a non-drainage procedure following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is becoming more acceptable in enhanced recovery after surgery, postoperative drainage is still commonly used in TKA surgeries. This study aimed to compare the non-drainage to the drainage during the early postoperative stage regarding proprioceptive and functional recovery, and postoperative outcomes of TKA patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A prospective, single-blind, randomized, controlled trial was carried out on 91 TKA patients, who were randomly allocated into the non-drainage group (NDG) or the drainage group (DG). Patients were evaluated regarding knee proprioception, functional outcomes, pain intensity, range of motion, knee circumference, and anesthetic consumption. Outcomes were assessed at the time of charge, at postoperative 7th day, and at postoperative 3rd month.

RESULTS

There were no differences between groups at baseline (p > 0.05). During the inpatient period, the NDG experienced superior pain relief (p < 0.05), had a higher Hospital for Special Surgery knee score (p = 0.001), demanded lower assistance from a sitting position to a standing position (p = 0.001) and walking for 4.5 m (p = 0.034), and performed the Timed Up and Go test in a shorter duration (p = 0.016) compared to the DG. The NDG gained the actively straight leg raise earlier (p = 0.009), needed lower anesthetic consumption (p < 0.05), and showed improved proprioception (p < 0.05) compared to the DG during the inpatient period.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings support that a non-drainage procedure would be a better option to provide a faster proprioceptive and functional recovery, and beneficial results for patients following TKA. Therefore, the non-drainage procedure should be the first choice in TKA surgery rather than drainage.

Functional recovery with peripheral nerve block versus general anesthesia for upper limb surgery: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Peripheral nerve block is a common anesthetic technique used during orthopedic upper limb surgery. Injection of local anesthetics around the target nerve inhibits the action of voltage-dependent sodium channels, inhibiting neurotransmission of pain impulses and providing motor immobility. Compared to general anesthesia, it could improve functional recovery by inhibiting nociceptive impulses and inflammation, thus reducing postoperative pain and immobilization and improving postoperative rehabilitation. This systematic review evaluates the impact of peripheral nerve block versus general anesthesia on postoperative functional recovery following orthopedic upper limb surgery.

METHODS

We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, CINHAL, EMBASE, and Scopus trial databases from inception until September 2021 for studies comparing peripheral nerve block to general anesthesia. We collected data on functional recovery, range of motion, patient satisfaction, quality of life, and return to work. We pooled studies using a random-effects model and summarized the quality of evidence with the GRADE approach.

RESULTS

We assessed 373 citations and 19 full-text articles for eligibility, and included six studies. Six studies reported on functional recovery, but failed to detect a significant superiority of peripheral nerve block over general anesthesia (3 RCT studies, N = 160; SMD -0.15; CI at 95% -0.60-0.3; I² = 45%; p = 0.07; low quality of evidence and 3 observational studies, N = 377; SMD -0.35; CI at 95% -0.71-0.01; I² = 64%; p = 0.06; very low quality of evidence).

CONCLUSIONS

Current literature is limited and fails to identify the benefit of peripheral nerve block on functional recovery. More studies are needed to assess the impact on long-term recovery. Considering the potential impact on clinical practice and training, a prospective study on functional recovery is ongoing (NCT04541745).

TRIAL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO ID CRD42018116298. Registered on December 4, 2018.

Comparison of Femoral Nerve Catheter, Adductor Canal Catheter, and Periarticular Liposomal Bupivacaine Infiltration for Postoperative Analgesia After Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

Peripheral nerve catheters are used to provide analgesia after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and have been shown to decrease pain and opioid use, to facilitate participation with physical therapy (PT), and to hasten discharge. More recently, pericapsular infiltration using liposomal bupivacaine (LB) has been employed as an alternative analgesic approach.

METHODS

This retrospective study compared outcomes for three analgesic approaches: femoral nerve catheter (FNC), adductor canal catheter (ACC), and intraoperative LB infiltration. The primary outcome was numeric rating scale (NRS) pain scores at 24 hours. Secondary outcomes included pain scores at 12, 36, and 48 hours, time-to-first opioid, cumulative opioid use, distance walked, and time-to-discharge.

RESULTS

Pain scores at 24 hours were significantly lower in both the ACC and FNC cohorts when compared to the LB cohort (3.1 versus 4.6 [P = .017] and 2.4 versus 4.6 [P < .0001]). The ACC and FNC groups did not differ significantly at that timepoint (P = .27). Similar comparisons were found at 12 and 36 hours, while at 48 hours the FNC group was superior. Time to first opioid and opioid consumption favored the ACC and FNC groups. Walking distance favored the ACC group. Both the ACC and LB groups had a faster time-to-discharge than the FNC group.

CONCLUSION

Both ACCs and FNCs provided superior analgesia at 24 hours compared to LB, while being equivalent to each other. Pain scores at 12 hours and 36 hours as well as opioid consumption through 48 hours mirrored this finding. Although various differences were found between groups in terms of time-to-first analgesic, walking distance and time-to-discharge, the ACC approach appeared to optimally balance analgesia, ambulation, and time-to-discharge.

Postoperative Pain Control by Local Infiltration Analgesia and Peripheral Nerve Block in Primary Prosthetic Total Knee Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Postoperative (post-op) pain control has an important impact on post-op rehabilitation. The logistics of its maintenance challenge the effect of peripheral nerve block on post-op pain control, with the risk for post-op complications. We hypothesized that perioperative use of local infiltration analgesia (LIA) is comparable to post-op pain control by peripheral nerve block.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We evaluated three groups of patients treated with primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) due to symptomatic end-stage osteoarthritis with post-op pain control by LIA (LIA group, n=52), femoral plus sciatic nerve block (FSNB) (FSNB group, n=54), and without local or regional analgesia as controls (Control group, n=53). The primary outcome variable was the post-op pain level intensity as measured by the visual analog scale (VAS). Secondary outcome variables were knee function measured by the Knee Society Score (KSS) and the quadriceps muscle strength recovery profile.

RESULTS

Up to 4 hours post-op, pain intensity was significantly lower in FSNB patients (P<0.05). This effect of the peripheral nerve block on the pain level disappeared 6 hours post-op. The LIA and FSNB patients showed a significant decrease in pain intensity on days 2 and 3 post-op (P<0.05) with no mutual differences (P>0.05). This effect disappeared on day 4 post-op (P>0.05). The KSS score showed similar significant improvement of functional abilities (P<0.001) in all three groups. There was no difference in KSS scores among the groups 6 months after surgery (P>0.05). Quadriceps muscle recovery profile was similar in the LIA and Control groups, but significantly poorer in the FSNB group (P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

The value of very short-term and improved pain relief of post-op FSNB over LIA of the surgical wound should be carefully weighed against its cost, logistics, and potential complication threat.

Effectiveness of ERAS (Enhanced Recovery after Surgery) Protocol via Peripheral Nerve Block for Total Knee Arthroplasty

Peripheral nerve block (PNB) for patients with total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is one of the recommended interventions in ERAS protocols. However, most existing studies involved unilateral TKA (UTKA). As such, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of PNB in terms of immediate postoperative analgesia, length of hospital stays (LOS), and early functional outcomes in both UTKA and simultaneous bilateral TKAs (BTKAs). We reviewed 236 patients who underwent primary TKA with PNB, with 138 and 98 being UTKA and BTKAs, respectively; those in the PNB group underwent femoral nerve and adductor canal block. The matched control and PNB groups—who received intravenous/epidural patient-controlled analgesia (IVPCA/PCEA) alone or IVPCA in addition to PNB after surgery, respectively—were compared. The VAS scores at rest until 48 h after surgery were significantly lower in PNB groups compared to those in the IVPCA groups. At 0– 6 h of activity, VAS scores of the UTKA with PNB group were also lower than the IVPCA group. Compared to PCEA groups, VAS scores at 0–6 h of activity were higher in both the UTKA and BTKAs with PNB groups. However, at 24–48 h at rest, the scores of those in the UTKA with PNB group were lower than those in the PCEA group. The control and experimental UTKA and BTKAs groups had similar LOS and functional outcomes at 90 days postoperatively. In primary TKA, PNB has great analgesic effects for immediate postoperative pain control, and represents a similar analgesic effect to epidural PCA.

Adductor Canal Blocks With Bupivacaine and Magnesium After Same-day Discharge Total Knee Arthroplasty Improve Postoperative Pain Relief and Decrease Opioid Consumption: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVES

Adequate pain management is a critical component of facilitating same-day discharge for total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Adductor canal blocks (ACB) have been shown to be an effective technique for managing pain after TKA. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of adding magnesium to local anesthetic in ACB on postoperative pain, opioid consumption, nausea, and overall patient satisfaction.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A sample of 119 adults undergoing elective unilateral TKA were included. Patients were randomly assigned to receive ACB with magnesium and bupivacaine (n=56) or with bupivacaine only (n=63). Primary outcomes were total opioid consumption in the first 48 hours after surgery and pain scores. Secondary outcomes were the incidence of nausea in the first 48 hours after surgery and total overall satisfaction.

RESULTS

Opioid consumption decreased significantly in the Mg group compared with the no-Mg group over the first 24 hours (33.2±3.0 vs. 21.3±2.4, P=0.003), the second 24 hours (35.4±2.7 vs. 27.3±2.3, P=0.026), and the first 48 hours total after surgery (68.6±5.1 vs. 48.6±4.3, P=0.004). Pain scores were reduced in the Mg group (24 h: 5.1±2.3 vs. 3.5±2.0, P=0.000; 48 h: 5.1±1.6 vs. 3.9±1.6, P=0.000). Secondary outcomes showed no difference in the incidence of nausea over the first 48 hours and overall satisfaction.

CONCLUSION

The addition of magnesium to local anesthetic in ACB decreases pain scores and opioid consumption, without increasing nausea, when compared with ACB with local anesthetic alone.

Effectiveness of continuous femoral nerve block for pain relief after total knee arthroplasty: comparison with epidural patient-controlled analgesia and periarticular injection

OBJECTIVE

To compare the clinical outcomes among three analgesic techniques, continuous femoral nerve block (CFNB), epidural patient-controlled analgesia (EPCA) and periarticular injection (PAI), in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

METHODS

This retrospective case-control study enrolled patients that underwent TKA. Visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores, sleep disturbance, additional opioid consumption and incidence of opioid-related side-effects were assessed.

RESULTS

A total of 120 patients were categorized into three groups: EPCA (group A, n = 40), PAI (group B, n = 40) and CFNB (group C, n = 40). Group C had significantly lower VAS pain scores than groups A and B at 8, 12 and 24 h after TKA. There were no significant differences in VAS pain scores among the three groups from 48 h after TKA. Sleep quality on the first day after surgery was significantly better in group C than in groups A and B. Additional opioid consumption was significantly lower in the group C than in the groups A and B. Group C showed a lower rate of opioid-related side-effects than groups A and B.

CONCLUSION

CFNB was a more effective additional analgesic technique than EPCA or PAI for acute postoperative pain control within 24 h of TKA.

Effect of Local Infiltration Analgesia on Functional Outcomes in Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Clinical Trial

Local infiltration analgesia (LIA) is a simple, surgeon-administered technique for the treatment of postoperative pain after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy of LIA and its effects on functional outcomes in TKA. A total of 135 patients with primary TKA were recruited and randomized either to receive LIA or to receive placebo injection (PI). Pain, active range of motion (ROM), knee function score, functional activities, and hospital length of stay (LOS) were assessed before surgery and from postoperative day (POD) 1 to at discharge. Lower pain scores at rest were recorded on POD1 and POD2 in the LIA group (p = 0.027 and p = 0.020, respectively). Lower pain score on walking was recorded on POD1 in the LIA group (p = 0.002). There was a statistically significant difference in active knee flexion between groups on POD1 (p = 0.038). There was a significant difference in LOS between LIA and PI groups. Shorter stay was seen in LIA group. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of knee function score and functional outcomes. LIA technique is effective for pain management in the early postoperative period. LIA added benefit for knee function in terms of active knee flexion ROM after TKA. A shorter hospital LOS was observed in LIA group. However, we did not find any differences in groups in terms of functional assessment such as ability to rise from a chair and walking capacity.The level of evidence is randomized controlled trial, level I.

Liposomal Bupivacaine Versus Standard Bupivacaine in the Adductor Canal for Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized, Controlled Trial

Peripheral nerve blocks are commonly used in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Liposomal bupivacaine is an extended-release anesthetic medication that maintains efficacy upwards of 72 hours. This study compared single-shot liposomal bupivacaine (LB) with the standard single-shot bupivacaine (SB) in a preoperative adductor canal block in TKA patients. A double-blind randomized, controlled trial at a single institution was performed in patients undergoing TKA. A standard preoperative single-shot adductor canal nerve injection was performed in 31 patients using 266 mg of liposomal bupivacaine (20 mL), whereas 32 patients received a standard formulation of 0.5% bupivacaine hydrogen chloride (20 mL). The primary outcome measure was postoperative gait velocity. Secondary outcomes included knee range of motion, pain scores, patient satisfaction, knee extension strength, opioid consumption, length of stay, and adverse events. There were no differences in baseline measures between groups. Improved pain ratings with activity (P=.009) were noted on postoperative day 1 with LB (mean, 4.4; SD, 2.0) compared with SB (mean, 5.9; SD, 2.6). Fewer opioids were used with LB compared with SB on postoperative day 1 (mean, 51.2 vs 66.1; P=.020) and on postoperative day 2 (mean, 39.5 vs 54.8; P=.016). No statistically significant differences in gait velocity, knee range of motion, knee extension strength, or patient satisfaction occurred. Peripheral nerve blockade with a single-shot adductor canal injection demonstrated improved pain scores with activity and diminished postoperative narcotic use when using LB compared with SB in TKA patients. There may be early postoperative advantages with LB as a single-shot injection in adductor canal blockade for patients undergoing TKA. [Orthopedics. 2021;44(4):249-255.].

Would high-dose corticosteroid addition to multimodal cocktail periarticular injection contribute to prolonged pain control and better recovery following total knee arthroplasty?: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Enhanced recovery following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has been advocated to enhance postoperative recovery. Multimodal cocktail periarticular injection (MCPI) use for pain control in TKA has gained wide acceptance. MCPI-containing corticosteroids are believed to be an effective solution owing to their local anti-inflammatory effects and ability to reduce the local stress response postoperatively. However, there is conflicting evidence regarding its benefits. This trial aims to compare MCPI with a high dose of corticosteroid, normal dose of corticosteroid, and non-corticosteroid during TKA, to assess the effectiveness of MCPI containing corticosteroids in postoperative pain relief, functional improvement, rescue analgesia, and side effects and provide evidence that high-dose corticosteroids result in prolonged pain control and better recovery following TKA.

METHODS

This is a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study. A total of 234 patients scheduled for TKA will be recruited. During surgery, before wound closure, 80 ml of the cocktail analgesic will be injected into the muscle and joint capsule for local infiltration analgesia; the participants will be randomly assigned to three groups to receive a high dose of betamethasone MCPI (group H), normal dose of betamethasone MCPI (group N), and non-betamethasone MCPI (group C). The following indices will be recorded and analyzed: the strongest knee pain experienced during 90° flexion at 6 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, 5 days, 14 days, and 30 days after surgery; 1 min walking ability; and circumference around the patella at 2, 5, 14, and 30 days after surgery; Knee Society knee score at 14 days and 30 days after surgery; C-reactive protein and blood sedimentation; blood sugar 2, 5, 14, and 30 days following surgery; rescue analgesic consumption; and adverse events. If any participant withdraws from the trial, an intention-to-treat analysis will be performed.

DISCUSSION

The results of this study will provide clinical evidence on the effectiveness of MCPI-containing corticosteroids in postoperative pain relief, functional improvement, rescue analgesia, and adverse events, as well as provide evidence on the efficacy of high-dose corticosteroids in prolonged pain control and better recovery following TKA.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2000038671 . Registered on September 27, 2020.

Associations between early postoperative pain outcome measures and late functional outcomes in patients after knee arthroplasty

INTRODUCTION/AIM

Early rehabilitation, return to daily life activities and function are the ultimate goals of perioperative care. It is unclear which pain-related patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) mirror treatment effects or are related with early and late functional outcomes.

METHODS

We examined associations between two approaches of pain management (scheduled vs 'on demand') and PROMs on post-operative days one and five (POD1, 5) with function on POD5 and 3 months after surgery in patients undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) in a single centre. The scheduled pain management consisted of pain assessment and routine administration of non-opioid drugs, and a weak opioid based on severity of pain reported by patients. The 'on demand' group received non-opioids and/or a weak opioid only when asking 'on demand' for analgesics.

RESULTS

On POD1, patients in the scheduled treatment group reported reduced severity of worst pain, less interference of pain with activities in-bed and sleep, and a higher proportion got out of bed. On POD5, these patients reported as well significantly less worst pain, spent significantly less time in severe pain, experienced less interference of pain with activities in bed, and felt less helpless. Furthermore, tests of function, extension and flexion ranges, Barthel index and 6 minutes walking test on POD5, and the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) 3 months later were significantly better in the scheduled treatment group compared to the 'on demand' treatment group. Pain related PROMs assessed at POD1 and especially at POD5 are associated with better knee range of motion, better performance in activities of daily living, and faster gait speed, as well as less pain, better performance in activities of daily living, as well as higher knee-related quality of life 3 months postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates that severe postoperative pain after TKA might have long lasting consequences, and even small improvements in treatment, although being far from optimal, are accompanied by improved outcomes.

A comparison of analgesic techniques for total knee arthroplasty: A network meta-analysis

STUDY OBJECTIVE

There is no established analgesic method for postoperative total knee arthroplasty. We comprehensively compared the analgesic methods for postoperative total knee arthroplasty.

DESIGN

A network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials was used to compare 18 interventions, which were ranked by six outcome indices, to select the best modality.

SETTING

Postoperative recovery room and inpatient ward.

PATIENTS

98 randomised controlled trials involving 7452 patients (ASA I-III) were included in the final analysis.

INTERVENTIONS

Studies that included the use of at least one of the following 12 nerve block(fascia iliaca compartment block (FIB), FNB, cFNB, single femoral nerve block (sFNB), adductor canal block (ACB), sciatic nerve block (SNB), obturator nerve block (ONB), continuous posterior lumbar plexus block (PSOAS), FNB + SNB, ACB + LIA, FNB + LIA, PCA + FNB).

MEASUREMENTS

Pain intensity was compared using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Also, postoperative complications, function score, hospital length of stay, morphine consumption and patient satisfaction were measured.

MAIN RESULTS

For visual analogue scale scores, continuous femoral nerve block (FNB) and FNB + sciatic nerve block (SNB) were the the most effective interventions. For reducing postoperative complications, fascia iliaca compartment block, FNB, SNB, and obturator nerve block showed the best results. For reducing postoperative morphine consumption, adductor canal block (ACB) + local infiltration analgesia (LIA) and FNB + SNB were preferred. For function scores (range of motion, Timed-Up-and-Go test), ACB and LIA were optimal choices. For reducing hospital length of stay and patient satisfaction, ACB + LIA and FNB + LIA were best, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Peripheral nerve block, especially FNB and ACB, is a better option than other analgesic methods, and its combination with other methods can be beneficial. Peripheral nerve block is a safe and effective postoperative analgesia method. However, our findings can only provide objective evidence. Clinicians should choose the treatment course based on the individual patient's condition and clinical situation.

Local infiltration analgesia with additional intraarticular catheter provide better pain relief compared to single-shot local infiltration analgesia in TKA

PURPOSE

Local infiltration analgesia (LIA) has been proven to be efficient in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, the effect of single-shot LIA is temporarily limited. The objective of this prospective trial was to investigate if the potential benefits resulting from LIA can be prolonged by a continuous intra-articular perfusion of LIA. The hypothesis of the present study was that the use of an additional continuous intra-articular perfusion delivering LIA would result in less pain and better function compared to single-shot LIA in the immediate post-operative period.

METHODS

50 consecutively selected patients undergoing TKA received either a single-shot LIA (S-LIA group, 25 knees) or single-shot LIA combined with a continuous post-operative intra-articular perfusion for three post-operative days (CP-LIA group, 25 knees). VAS (visual analogue scale) for pain, pain medication consumption and flexion ability were recorded postoperatively for 6 days. All patients had the same implant, surgeon and intra- as well as post-operative setting.

RESULTS

The VAS score was significantly better for CP-LIA 6 h after surgery and on post-operative day 1, 2 and 6. There was no significant difference with regard to additional opioid consumption or flexion ability of the knee. However, there was a trend of the CP-LIA group requiring less additional opioids over the complete post-operative period compared to the S-LIA group. There were no complications or revisions.

CONCLUSION

LIA combined with an additional intra-articular catheter provides better short-term pain control compared to single-shot LIA. However, no significant differences in terms of knee flexion were observed. This limited benefit should be balanced against the additional costs and the possible higher risk of infection.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level II.

Effect of periarticular multimodal injection versus femoral nerve block on in-hospital rehabilitation after total knee arthroplasty in Chinese population: A prospective randomized control trial study

Introduction:

Total knee arthroplasty has been adopted to be the most successful treatment for advanced knee osteoarthritis. The adoption of multimodal periarticular analgesic (MPI) has been shown to have satisfactory pain control after surgery. However, there is relatively lack of data investigating whether this mode of pain control is effective in enhancing rehabilitation.

Method:

This is a prospective randomized control trial from July 2017 to June 2018, including 82 patients, in which 43 of them had MPI injection and 39 of them had no MPI injection. Primary outcome measures included the number of days required to perform straight leg raise, length of hospital stay, and Insall knee score upon discharge. Secondary outcome measures included total dose of patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) consumption postoperatively and visual analog scale (VAS) at rest and on motion during postoperative days 1–4.

Result:

The MPI group performed significantly better than the femoral nerve block (FNB) group in terms of early functional outcome, namely the number of days required to perform straight leg raising and length of hospital stay. The total postoperative PCA consumption and VAS score on motion during postoperative day 1 were also significantly better for MPI group. There was no difference in Insall knee score upon discharge between these two groups.

Conclusion:

Compared to FNB, MPI depicts a faster inpatient rehabilitation, accounted by its quadriceps-sparing, and better pain relief especially in the early postoperative period.

Is changing the postoperative pain management in total knee arthroplasty from femoral nerve block to local infiltration analgesia successful? Retrospective trial with the first and last 100 patients

Purpose

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in local infiltration analgesia (LIA) as a technique to control postoperative pain. We compared this technique to the gold standard the 3 in 1 femoral nerve block (FNB) in postoperative pain management after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in a large patient population. This trial analyzes in the early postoperative phase the pain, range of motion, and consumption of pain medications after TKA.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective trial that included all patients who were undergoing primary TKA by one single surgeon in a high-volume arthroplasty center in 2015. Patients who have secondary osteoarthritis due to rheumatoid arthritis or previous knee arthrotomy, as well as revision cases, were excluded. The included patients were divided into 2 groups according to the applied pain management (group 1 FNB, group 2 LIA). Concerning the LIA group, a modified form of composition compared to the first describer without the use of adrenaline was carried out. Post-operative additional pain medications were given on a fixed scheme to the patient. The primary outcome was pain at rest over 7 days after surgery labeled by the numeric pain rating scale (NRS). The secondary outcome measures were the total amount of opioid consumption over the hospital stay and the additional need for non-opioid medication. The conversion of the opiate medications on the morphine preparation was carried out according to the conversion data from the literature. For functional recovery, we compared the range of motion in both groups, which was recorded from the second postoperative day by the attending physiotherapist.

Results

In total, 202 patients were assessed for eligibility and included in this clinical trial. Hundred patients were allocated to the continuous FNB group (group 1) and 102 patients to the LIA group (group 2). No statistical difference was found between the two groups regarding demographic data. Primary outcome measurements: The LIA group had a significantly lower NRS score than the continuous FNB group for the measurement in the morning on days 1, 2, and 3 after surgery (day 1, 1.5; day 2, 1.6; day 3, 1.3; p < 0.05). Secondary outcome measurements: The total volume of morphine consumption for the first six postoperative days was significantly lower in the LIA group than the FNB group (FNB 159.8 vs. LIA 96.07). There is also a significant difference between the total morphine consumption of both groups in the direct postoperative course with respect to time and group (two way ANOVA, p < 0.05) On the day of the operation and on the first postoperative day, the intake of additional non-opioids in the LIA group was also significantly reduced compared to the FNB group. No significant difference was observed on the second to sixth postoperative day concerning an additional consumption of non-opioid medications. In terms of range of motion, the LIA group showed a higher active range of motion at the operated extremity than the FNB group during the hospital stay.

Conclusion

The local intraarticular infiltration therapy (LIA) is a sufficient alternative to regional anesthesia avoiding the known risks of regional procedures. The results of this study reflect the efficiency of this pain management with a lower consumption of analgesics, identical to reduced postoperative pain ratings and an improved ROM in the first postoperative days.

Level of evidence

Retrospective trial

Peripheral Nerve Block Versus Spinal Anesthesia for Total Knee Replacement in Elderly Patients

Introduction: Spinal anesthesia and peripheral nerve block anesthesia are used in total knee replacement. The main aim of the study was to examine whether peripheral nerve block anesthesia would provide a more stable hemodynamic profile and analgesic effect in elderly patients undergoing total knee replacement, as compared to spinal anesthesia.

Methods: This is a single-center case-control trial, with patients from our prospectively followed registry. The patients were divided into two groups, those with peripheral nerve block anesthesia and spinal anesthesia. Propensity score analysis was performed in 1:1 ratio. The primary outcome was analgesia with total analgesic effect and the secondary outcome was intraoperative hemodynamic status.

Results: The patients in peripheral nerve block anesthesia group had a longer length of analgesia (606.19±219.35 vs 359.48±106.82, P<0.01) and pain scores during 24h and 48h after the surgery were lower in the same group of patients (3.21±1.74 vs 5.02±2.23, P=0.037; 3.03±1.57 vs 5.67±2.51, P=0.028). Spinal anesthesia group had a larger number of patients with significant hypotension (3.84% vs 15.38%, P=0.01), as well as a larger number of patients who received vasopressors (0% vs 9.61%, P<0.01).

Conclusion: Both anesthesia methods demonstrated sufficient analgesic efficacy in total knee replacement, although there was less pain severity and longer analgesic effect of peripheral nerve block anesthesia in patients who were 60 years old or older. Spinal anesthesia showed a significantly higher degree of hypotension than in those patients receivingperipheral nerve block anesthesia.

A Randomised Controlled Trial of Local Infiltration Analgesia Versus Femoral Nerve Block for Postoperative Analgesia Following Total Knee Arthroplasty

Background

Total knee replacement is often associated with significant postoperative pain. Although the use of a femoral nerve block is well-established, local infiltration analgesia has gained popularity in recent years. We compared single-shot local infiltration analgesia with a single-shot femoral nerve block for patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty.

Methods

A total of 194 patients were randomised to receive either local infiltration analgesia (150 ml bupivacaine 0.067% with adrenaline) or a femoral nerve block (20 ml 0.375% levobupivacaine). Both groups received spinal anaesthesia. The primary outcome measure was the total morphine consumption. Secondary outcome measures included: post-operative pain scores, rehabilitation goals, readiness for discharge, and physical, mental, and functional outcomes, including the Oxford Knee Score (OKS).

Results

A total of 69 patients in the local infiltration analgesia group and 79 patients in the femoral nerve block group were analysed. Median total morphine consumption was significantly greater in the local infiltration analgesia group as compared to the femoral nerve block group (54.67 mg vs 45 mg, respectively, p=0.0388). The post-operative OKS at six weeks was slightly more improved for the femoral nerve block group than for local infiltration analgesia (12.5 vs 9 point median improvements for the femoral nerve block and local infiltration analgesia groups, respectively, p=0.0261). There were no statistically significant differences in other secondary outcome measures.

Conclusion

A single-shot femoral nerve block significantly reduces the opioid requirement for primary total knee arthroplasty but is otherwise comparable to single-shot local infiltration analgesia. 

Prognostic factors for inpatient functional recovery following total hip and knee arthroplasty: a systematic review

Background and purpose - Essential for safe and timely hospital discharge, inpatient functional recovery following lower limb arthroplasty is also variable. A previous systematic review reported moderate and conflicting levels of evidence regarding patient-related predictors of inpatient recovery for primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). A systematic review of surgical prognostic factors for inpatient recovery following THA or total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is yet to be undertaken. We identified patient and surgical prognostic factors for inpatient functional recovery following THA and TKA; determined whether inpatient functional recovery varies between these procedures; and established whether validated outcome measures relevant to the patient's functional requirements for hospital discharge are routinely assessed.Patients and methods - Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklists assessed methodological quality, and a best-evidence synthesis approach determined the levels of evidence supporting individual prognostic factors. PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Scopus, and PEDro databases were searched from inception to May 2019. Included studies examined patient or surgical prognostic factors and a validated measure of post-operative function within 2 weeks of primary, unilateral THA or TKA.Results - Comorbidity status and preoperative function are supported by a strong level of evidence for TKA. For THA, no strong level of evidence was found for patient-related prognostic factors, and no surgical factors were independently prognostic for either arthroplasty site. Limited evidence supports fast-track protocols in the TKA population.Interpretation - Preoperative screening and optimization is recommended. Assessment of Enhanced Recovery Pathways using validated outcome measures appropriate for the early postoperative period is warranted.

Local infiltration analgesia for total knee arthroplasty: Does a mixture of ropivacaine and epinephrine have an impact on hemodynamics? An observational cohort study

Purpose:

High doses of local anesthetic administered intra-articularly and peri-articularly during local infiltration analgesia (LIA) for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) may have potential effects on patient hemodynamics. The aim of this study was to know if hemodynamic changes are associated with LIA in patients undergoing TKA.

Methods:

In a prospective observational design, elective patients undergoing orthopedic surgery for TKA and treated with LIA consisting of a mixture of ropivacaine (300 mg) and epinephrine (1 mg) were investigated for changes in selected hemodynamic parameters: heart rate (HR), non-invasively registered mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), and incidence of arrhythmias during the perioperative course, consisting of the following periods: period 1. from establishment of spinal anesthesia to prior to LIA administration, period 2. from administration of LIA to before release of ischemia tourniquet, period 3. from release ischemia tourniquet to end of surgery, and period 4. from transfer to the post anesthesia care unit to the ward. Statistical analysis was done with ANOVA-RM for the difference in means in repeated measurements, and with the Tukey Test between pairs. Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation. A P value <0.05 was considered significant.

Results:

Ninety-nine patients (mean age 77 ± 8 years) were included. HR increased from period 2 to period 3 up to 16% (67 ± 14 to 77 ± 13 bpm, P < 0.001), and from period 2 to period 4 up to 21% (67 ± 14 to 81 ± 12 bpm, P < 0.001). MAP showed no significant changes from period 2 to period 3 (89 ± 13 to 87 ± 13 mmHg, P > 0.50), and from period 2 to period 4 (89 ± 13 to 91 ± 11 mmHg, P > 0.50). No arrhythmias were detected during follow-up.

Conclusions:

A mixture of ropivacaine and epinephrine for LIA, despite the high doses administered, does not have a negative impact on hemodynamics.

Comparison of Effectiveness of Ropivacaine Infusion Regimens for Continuous Femoral Nerve Block for Recovery After Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized Double-Blind Trial

Purpose

Continuous femoral nerve block (cFNB) is effective for analgesia after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, it is not clear which low-dose regimen of ropivacaine infusion for cFNB provides adequate analgesia and enables rapid recovery. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of different cFNB regimens on rehabilitation of patients after TKA.

Patients and Methods

Sixty patients scheduled for TKA were enrolled in this trial. After surgery, patients in the 0.1%, 0.15%, and 0.2% groups received infusion of 10 mL of 0.1%, 6.7 mL of 0.15%, and 5 mL of 0.2% ropivacaine per hour, respectively (n=20), at the dose of 10 mg/h for 48 h. The primary endpoint was time to readiness for discharge. The secondary endpoints were time to first walk, manual muscle testing (MMT) scores, numerical rating scale (NRS) scores at rest and movement, morphine consumption, rescue analgesia, and the incidence of adverse events.

Results

The time to readiness for discharge and the time to first walk of the 0.1% group were significantly longer than that of the 0.15% and 0.2% groups. MMT scores of the 0.2% group at 18 h after surgery were significantly lower than those of the 0.1% group. MMT scores of the 0.2% group at 24 and 48 h after surgery were also significantly lower than those of the 0.1% and 0.15% groups. NRS scores at rest and at movement in the 0.1% group were significantly higher than those in the 0.15% and 0.2% groups.

Conclusion

Patients administered the regimens of 0.15% and 0.2% ropivacaine infusion for cFNB were ready for discharge earlier than the 0.1% group after TKA, at the dose of 10 mg/h for 48 h. The regimen of 0.15% ropivacaine, which is associated with less quadriceps muscle strength weakness than 0.2%, is recommended for postoperative analgesia after TKA.

HYR-PB21-LA, a potential extended-release bupivacaine formulation, produces long-lasting local anesthesia in rats and guinea pigs

BACKGROUND

Effective postoperative pain management plays a key role in enhancing recovery of patients after surgery. Bupivacaine hydrochloride is one of the most commonly local anesthetics used for the postoperative pain control. However, the relatively short anesthesia duration of bupivacaine preparations limited their clinical application.

METHODS

Both guinea pig pin-prick study and rat tail-flick test were performed to evaluate the local anesthesia efficacy of HYR-PB21-LA, a new microparticle suspension injection of bupivacaine pamoate.

RESULTS

In the pin-prick test, the complete cutaneous trunci muscle reflex inhibitions were observed at 30 min in all treatment groups containing bupivacaine. In comparison with 6.7 mg/mL HYR-PB21-LA, both 10 and 20 mg/mL HYR-PB21-LA groups had significantly higher area under effect time curve (AUEC) values (p<0.001 and p<0.0001) and slower offset time (p<0.0001). Significantly higher AUEC (p<0.0001) and slower offset time (p<0.0001) were also found in 10 mg/mL HYR-PB21-LA treatment group compared with bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension (liposomal bupivacaine). In the rat tail-flick test, significantly increased local anesthesia effect was lasted for 5 hours after 2.5 mg/mL HYR-PB21-LA administration, which was fivefold longer than bupivacaine hydrochloride. The longer lasted efficacy of significantly increased local anesthesia was also observed in 5 mg/mLHYR-PB21-LA than those in liposomal bupivacaine (8 hour vs 1 hour).

CONCLUSIONS

The results demonstrated that the HYR-PB21-LA produced longer local anesthesia effect than current clinical preparations of bupivacaine in two animal models. These findings raise the potential clinical value of HYR-PB21-LA as a long-lasting local anesthesia for controlling postsurgical pain in humans.

Pain management after total knee arthroplasty: A prospective randomized study

INTRODUCTION

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a common procedure for improving mobility and quality of life in patients with osteoarthritis. Postoperative pain control management after TKA is still a concern as it relates to patients satisfaction and functional recovery.Many anesthetic regimens and techniques have been explored to decrease postoperative pain and enhance the fast recovery after TKA. The aim of this study was to evaluate the best anesthetic treatment in pain control after TKA.

METHODS

51 patients were included in a randomized prospective study and distributed in three groups. The first group (CG) in which no analgesic protocol was implemented (control group). The second group (LIA group) received an intraoperative local infiltration anesthesia (LIA) (60 ml mixture of two ropivacaine 75mg/10 mL + adrenaline 100μg/10 mL + physiological solution). The third group (FNB group) had only a femoral nerve block (FNB). Continuous outcomes including visual analogue scale (VAS) at 5,24,48 h and at 1 week, morphine consumption and range of motion (ROM) at 1,2,7 days.

RESULTS

There was significant difference between all groups (p < 0,001) in terms of the VAS score: at 5h after surgery (4.55,2.15,1.82); at 24h (4.15,2.65,3.36); at 48h (3.85,2.45,2.73); at 1 week (2.95,1.80, 1.64), respectively for groups CG, LIA, FNB.ROM was better in LIA and FNB groups than CG: at 1 die after surgery (44°,50°,54°); at 3 dies (69°,70°,71°); at 7 dies (91°,98°,98°), respectively for groups CG, LIA, FNB (p < 0,001).

DISCUSSION

LIA and FNB groups both showed a significant reduction at VAS score, better range of motion and less morphine consumption than CG (control group). LIA group has obtained a constant pain control in the postoperative days; FNB group had a good pain control in the hours after surgery, with a decrease in efficacy in the following days.

CONCLUSION

Further studies are still needed in order to define LIA as the reference pain management in TKA.

[Postoperative pain therapy after total knee arthroplasty : Is the local infiltration anesthesia the best therapy?]

BACKGROUND

Optimal perioperative pain management after total knee arthroplasty is necessary to promote mobilization and achieve early rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to determine whether local infiltration anesthesia (LIA) is the better postoperative pain therapy compared to a femoral nerve block (FNB) or a sciatic nerve block (SNB) using routine data.

METHODS

Data from the acute pain registry "Qualitätsverbesserung in der postoperativen Schmerztherapie" (QUIPS) were analyzed. The endpoints included postoperative maximal pain, frequency of pain-related movement impairment, nausea, and number of patients requesting opioids postoperatively. The influence of regional anesthesia in addition to general anesthesia was analyzed in 5 groups.

RESULTS

In total, the data of 8754 patients could be examined. It was found that the addition of LIA (β = -0.087 p = 0.000) or FNB (β = -0.137 p = 0.000) to general anesthesia is associated with a small but significant reduction of postoperative maximum pain. Between LIA, FNB, and SNB no relevant differences could be detected.

DISCUSSION

The pain reduction achieved by adding LIA or FNB in patients after total knee arthroplasty is relatively small. Comparison of techniques is hindered as there exists no widely accepted standard for performing LIAs yet.

WITHDRAWN: Peripheral nerve blocks for postoperative pain after major knee surgery

BACKGROUND

Major knee surgery is a common operative procedure to help people with end-stage knee disease or trauma to regain mobility and have improved quality of life. Poorly controlled pain immediately after surgery is still a key issue for this procedure. Peripheral nerve blocks are localized and site-specific analgesic options for major knee surgery. The increasing use of peripheral nerve blocks following major knee surgery requires the synthesis of evidence to evaluate its effectiveness and safety, when compared with systemic, local infiltration, epidural and spinal analgesia.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the efficacy and safety of peripheral nerve blocks for postoperative pain control following major knee surgery using methods that permit comparison with systemic, local infiltration, epidural and spinal analgesia.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (Issue 1, 2014), MEDLINE and EMBASE, from their inception to February 2014. We identified ongoing studies by searching trial registries, including the metaRegister of controlled trials (mRCT), clinicaltrials.gov and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP).

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included participant-blind, randomized controlled trials of adult participants (15 years or older) undergoing major knee surgery, in which peripheral nerve blocks were compared to systemic, local infiltration, epidural and spinal analgesia for postoperative pain relief.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently assessed study eligibility and extracted data. We recorded information on participants, methods, interventions, outcomes (pain intensity, additional analgesic consumption, adverse events, knee range of motion, length of hospital stay, hospital costs, and participant satisfaction). We used the 5-point Oxford quality and validity scale to assess methodological quality, as well as criteria outlined in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. We conducted meta-analysis of two or more studies with sufficient data to investigate the same outcome. We used the I² statistic to explore the heterogeneity. If there was no significant heterogeneity (I² value 0% to 40%), we used a fixed-effect model for meta-analysis, but otherwise we used a random-effects model. For dichotomous data, we present results as a summary risk ratio (RR) and a 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Where possible, we calculated the number needed to treat for an additional beneficial outcome (NNTB) or for an additional harmful outcome (NNTH), together with 95% CIs. For continuous data, we used the mean difference (MD) and 95% CI for similar outcome measures. We describe the findings of individual studies where pooling of data was not possible.

MAIN RESULTS

According to the eligibility criteria, we include 23 studies with 1571 participants, with high methodological quality overall. The studies compared peripheral nerve blocks adjunctive to systemic analgesia with systemic analgesia alone (19 studies), peripheral nerve blocks with local infiltration (three studies), and peripheral nerve blocks with epidural analgesia (one study). No study compared peripheral nerve blocks with spinal analgesia.Compared with systemic analgesia alone, peripheral nerve blocks adjunctive to systemic analgesia resulted in a significantly lower pain intensity score at rest, using a 100 mm visual analogue scale, at all time periods within 72 hours postoperatively, including the zero to 23 hours interval (MD -11.85, 95% CI -20.45 to -3.25, seven studies, 390 participants), the 24 to 47 hours interval (MD -12.92, 95% CI -19.82 to -6.02, six studies, 320 participants) and the 48 to 72 hours interval (MD -9.72, 95% CI -16.75 to -2.70, four studies, 210 participants). Subgroup analyses suggested that the high levels of statistical variation in our analyses could be explained by larger effects in people undergoing total knee arthroplasty compared with other types of surgery. Pain intensity was also significantly reduced on movement in the 48 to 72 hours interval postoperatively (MD -6.19, 95% CI -11.76 to -0.62, two studies, 112 participants). There was no significant difference on movement between these two groups in the time period of zero to 23 hours (MD -6.95, 95% CI -15.92 to 2.01, five studies, 304 participants) and 24 to 47 hours (MD -8.87, 95% CI -27.77 to 10.03, three studies, 182 participants). The included studies reported diverse types of adverse events, and we did not conduct a meta-analysis on specific types of adverse event. The numbers of studies and participants were also too few to draw conclusions on the other prespecified outcomes of: additional analgesic consumption; median time to remedication; knee range of motion; median time to ambulation; length of hospital stay; hospital costs; and participant satisfaction. There were insufficient data to compare peripheral nerve blocks and local infiltration or between peripheral nerve blocks and epidural analgesia.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

All of the included studies reported the main outcome of pain intensity but did not cover all the secondary outcomes of interest. The current review provides evidence that the use of peripheral nerve blocks as adjunctive techniques to systemic analgesia reduced pain intensity when compared with systemic analgesia alone after major knee surgery. There were too few data to draw conclusions on other outcomes of interest. More trials are needed to demonstrate a significant difference when compared with local infiltration, epidural analgesia and spinal analgesia.

Percutaneous Peripheral Nerve Stimulation to Control Postoperative Pain, Decrease Opioid Use, and Accelerate Functional Recovery Following Orthopedic Trauma

Orthopedic trauma is a significant military problem, causing several of the most disabling conditions with high rates of separation from duty and erosion of military readiness. The objective of this report is to summarize the findings of case series of a non-opioid therapy-percutaneous peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) - and describe its potential for postoperative analgesia, early opioid cessation, and improved function following orthopedic trauma. Percutaneous PNS has been evaluated for the treatment of multiple types of pain, including two case series on postoperative pain following total knee replacement (n = 10 and 8, respectively) and a case series on postamputation pain (n = 9). The orthopedic trauma induced during TKR is highly representative of multiple types of orthopedic trauma sustained by Service members and frequently produces intense, prolonged postoperative pain and extended opioid use following surgery. Collectively, the results of these three clinical studies demonstrated that percutaneous PNS can provide substantial pain relief, reduce opioid use, and improve function. These outcomes suggest that there is substantial potential for the use of percutaneous PNS following orthopedic trauma.

Analgesia effect of premixed nitrous oxide/oxygen during the rehabilitation after total knee arthroplasty: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background

The morbidity of knee arthritis is increasing among aged people and total knee arthroplasty has been its mainstream treatment to date. Postoperative rehabilitation is an important part of the procedure. However, the intense pain during the functional exercise involved has always been a challenge for both patients and health care professionals. The aim of this study is to test the analgesic effect of a mixture of nitrous oxide/oxygeb (1:1) inhalation for patients who are doing functional exercise 1 month after total knee arthroplasty.

Methods/design

This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study will be implemented in the Rehabilitation Department in the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University. Patients aged between 50 and 75 years who underwent a primary unilateral total knee arthroplasty are eligible for inclusion. The key exclusion criteria include: epilepsy, pulmonary embolism, intestinal obstruction, aerothorax. The treatment group (A) will receive a pre-prepared nitrous oxide/oxygen mixture plus conventional treatment (no analgesics), and the control group (B) will receive oxygen plus conventional treatment (no analgesics). Patients, physicians, therapists, and data collectors are all blind to the experiment. Assessments will be taken immediately after functional exercise begins (T0), 5 min (T1) after functional exercise begins, and 5 min after functional exercise has finished (T2). Patients will be randomly allocated between a treatment group (A) and a control group (B) in a ratio of 1:1. Primary outcome, including pain severity in the procedure, will be taken for each group. Secondary outcomes include blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, side effects, knee joint range of motion, Knee Society Score (KSS), rescue analgesia need, and satisfaction from both therapists and patients.

Discussion

This study will focus on exploring a fast and efficient analgesic for patients who are doing functional exercise after total knee arthroplasty. Our previous studies suggested that the prefixed nitrous oxide/oxygen mixture was an efficacious analgesic for the management of burn-dressing pain and breakthrough cancer pain. The results of this study should provide a more in-depth insight into the effects of this analgesic method. If this treatment proves successful, it could be implemented widely for patients doing functional exercise in the rehabilitation department.

Trial registration

ChiCTR-INR-17012891. Registered on 6 October 2017.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13063-019-3472-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Perioperative pregabalin does not reduce opioid requirements in total knee arthroplasty

PURPOSE

The purpose of this prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study was to determine if pregabalin, when given perioperatively in addition to patient-controlled analgesia morphine, paracetamol and etoricoxib, is effective in reducing morphine requirements and moderating pain scores after primary total knee arthroplasty. We hypothesize that there would be no difference in postoperative opioid requirements, postoperative pain scores, and functional scores with the use of perioperative pregabalin.

METHODS

Eighty-seven patients who underwent primary total knee arthroplasty were randomised and allocated to two groups. One group received capsules containing pregabalin 75 mg, and the other a placebo-one capsule before surgery and one capsule once per night up till postoperative day 2. Multimodal analgesia provided for all patients in this study included femoral nerve block, intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (morphine), paracetamol and etoricoxib. The primary outcome of patient's pain control was based on the measurement of cumulative morphine consumption during the first 72 h postoperatively.

RESULTS

Pregabalin did not reduce the cumulative or effective morphine consumption at 48 h and 72 h post-operation. There were also no significant differences noted in pain scores at 48 h and 72 h after surgery, functional range of motion of the operated knee at 72 h post-op, or outcomes recorded on the Knee Society Score (KSS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) questionnaires at 3 and 6 months post-op. None of the patients demonstrated common adverse reactions to pregabalin.

CONCLUSION

This study showed no reduction in postoperative opioid requirements, or improvement in early postoperative pain scores or functional outcomes at 6 months, with perioperative use of pregabalin. Orthopaedic surgeons may consider this when selecting an analgesic regimen for their patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

II.

Pain relieve without impairing muscle function after local infiltration anaesthesia in primary knee arthroplasty: a prospective randomized study

PURPOSE

Purpose of the current study was to compare early effectiveness of pain relieve of 3 in 1 regional pain catheter to local infiltration anesthesia (LIA) in primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Secondary endpoint was quadriceps muscle strength after both procedures.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A single-center, prospective, randomized controlled trial was performed. Patients eligible to TKA were either randomized into group 3 in 1 regional pain catheter (C), or group local infiltration anesthesia (L). Pain relieve was assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS) at rest and under physical activity (PA) prior to surgery (t0) and at days one through six. In addition, quadriceps muscle strength ( = straight leg raise) was tested according to the Manual Muscle Testing Scale. Functional outcome was measured using the Oxford Knee Score (OKS) preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively.

RESULTS

121 patients were included in the study. 59 (48.8%) patients were allocated to group C, 62 (51.2%) patients to Group L. No differences concerning pain level evaluated by VAS could be detected between the groups at any time. Comparing straight leg raise test group L was significantly superior over the complete postoperative period (p < 0.03). The mean OKS decreased significantly (p < 0.001) from preoperatively 34.2 ± 7.5 points to 16.9 ± 6.0 points at the six months final follow-up. Regarding OKS there were no intergroup differences at the final follow-up at 6 months postoperative.

CONCLUSION

There is no significant difference in pain relieve comparing LIA to 3 in 1 catheter in perioperative pain management in TKA. The advantage of LIA is unimpaired quadriceps muscle function in the short-term follow-up.

Outcome Selection and Methodological Quality of Major and Minor Shoulder Surgery Studies: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

Core outcome sets aim to select and standardize the choice of important outcomes reported in clinical trials to encourage more effective data synthesis, increase the reliability of comparing results, and minimize reporting bias. A core outcome set for elective shoulder surgery has yet to be defined, and therefore a systematic assessment of outcomes and methodology is necessary to inform the development of a core outcome set.

QUESTIONS/PURPOSES

The purpose of this study was to examine randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of patients having elective major or minor shoulder surgery to (1) identify the outcome domains reported; (2) determine specific outcome measurement tools that were utilized; and (3) assess the work for methodological quality and risk of bias.

METHODS

We conducted a scoping review (a review that identifies the nature and extent of research evidence) to explore the reported outcome domains, outcome tools, and methodological quality from RCTs conducted in shoulder surgery. We considered both major shoulder surgery (defined as arthroplasty, rotator cuff repair, stabilization procedures, biceps tenodesis, or Bankart repairs) and minor shoulder surgery (simple arthroscopy, capsular plication, lateral clavicular excisions, or subacromial decompression). We queried 10 electronic databases for studies published between January 2006 and January 2015. Studies were included if they were prospective, randomized controlled, clinical trials enrolling patients who received an elective shoulder surgical intervention. We extracted data relating to trial characteristics, primary outcomes, tools used to measure these outcomes as well as methodological quality indicators. We assessed indicators of methodological quality by exploring (1) the reproducibility of power analyses; and (2) whether the primary outcomes were powered to minimum clinically important differences. Risk of bias was also assessed with the Jadad score with scores between 0 (very high risk of bias) and 5 (very low risk). Findings were qualitatively analyzed and reported according to systematic and scoping review guidelines. We included 315 studies involving 30,232 patients; 266 studies investigated anesthetic, analgesic, or surgical interventions.

RESULTS

Of the 315 studies included, the most common outcome domains evaluated were analgesic (n = 104), functional (n = 87), anesthetic (n = 56), and radiologic (n = 29) outcomes, with temporal patterns noted. Studies of major shoulder surgery most commonly reported functional primary outcome domains, whereas minor shoulder surgery studies most frequently reported analgesic primary outcome domains. There were 85 different primary outcome tools utilized, which included 20 functional, 20 anesthetic, 13 analgesic, and 12 radiologic. A methodological quality assessment revealed that 24% of studies had reproducible power analyses, 13% were powered to minimum clinically important differences, and risk of bias assessment demonstrated a median (interquartile range [range]) Jadad score of 4 (3-5 [1-5]).

CONCLUSIONS

A wide range of outcome domains and outcome assessment tools are in common use in contemporary trials of patients undergoing elective surgery. Although some diversity is important to allow the assessment of patient populations that may have different goals, the large number of tools in common use may impair the ability of future meta-analyses to pool results effectively or even for systematic reviews to synthesize what is known. The limitations of methodological quality in RCTs may be improved by researchers following standard guidelines and considering the minimum clinically important differences in their trials to be of greater use to clinicians and their patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level I, therapeutic study.

Randomised controlled study comparing general and spinal anaesthesia with and without a tourniquet on the outcomes of total knee arthroplasty: study protocol

INTRODUCTION

Total knee arthroplasty is a highly effective treatment for end-stage knee osteoarthritis, and it is usually performed under spinal or general anaesthesia with or without a surgical tourniquet. Some debate about the preferred mode of anaesthesia regarding patient outcomes remains. The aim of this study, which compares general and spinal anaesthesia with and without a tourniquet on the outcomes of total knee arthroplasty, is to determine the optimal type of anaesthesia regimen and assess the effect of a tourniquet on the patient's recovery following total knee arthroplasty.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This study is a randomised, controlled, parallel-group, four-arm study comparing spinal and general anaesthesia with and without a tourniquet in 400 patients undergoing fast-track total knee arthroplasty, with a 12-month follow-up. The primary outcome is cumulative intravenous oxycodone consumption by patient-controlled analgesia during the first 24 postoperative hours. Secondary outcomes include postoperative nausea and vomiting, the length of hospital stay, the duration of the surgery, blood loss, demand for surgical unit resources, complications, readmissions, postoperative knee function, range of motion, health-related quality of life, prolonged pain and mortality.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study's protocol is in accordance with the declaration of Helsinki. The results of this study will be disseminated in international peer-reviewed journals.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT03364088; Pre-results.

A pragmatic approach to evaluating new techniques in regional anesthesia and acute pain medicine

Anesthesiologists set up regional anesthesia and acute pain medicine programs in order to improve the patient outcomes and experience. Given the increasing frequency and volume of newly described techniques, applying a pragmatic framework can guide clinicians on how to critically review and consider implementing the new techniques into clinical practice. A proposed framework should consider how a technique: increases access; enhances efficiency; decreases disparities and improves outcomes. Quantifying the relative contribution of these four factors using a point system, which will be specific to each practice, can generate an overall scorecard to help clinicians make decisions on whether or not to incorporate a new technique into clinical practice or replace an incumbent technique within a clinical pathway.

Peripheral Nerve Blocks vs Periarticular Injections in Total Knee Arthroplasty

In patients undergoing surgery, optimal pain management is associated with improved perioperative outcomes, patient satisfaction with surgery, and a more rapid functional recovery. In recent years, the employment of multimodal pain management strategies has become increasingly widespread. In particular, there has been an explosion in the use of peripheral nerve blockade and periarticular injections in total knee arthroplasty. However, there is significant variability in the administration of either modality of anesthesia. As such, a critical evaluation of the current literature is warranted to elucidate the advantages and disadvantages of each technique with the ultimate goal of further refining current pain control strategies. In this symposium, we review each of these modalities and their association with pain management, narcotic consumption, length of hospital stay, and adverse events.

A Feasibility Study of Percutaneous Peripheral Nerve Stimulation for the Treatment of Postoperative Pain Following Total Knee Arthroplasty

INTRODUCTION

The objective of the present feasibility study was to investigate the use of a new treatment modality-percutaneous peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS)-in controlling the often severe and long-lasting pain following total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

METHODS

For patients undergoing a primary, unilateral TKA, both femoral and sciatic open-coil percutaneous leads (SPR Therapeutics, Cleveland, OH) were placed up to seven days prior to surgery using ultrasound guidance. The leads were connected to external stimulators and used both at home and in the hospital for up to six weeks total.

RESULTS

In six of seven subjects (86%), the average of daily pain scores across the first two weeks was <4 on the 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale for pain. A majority of subjects (four out of seven; 57%) had ceased opioid use within the first week (median time to opioid cessation for all subjects was six days). Gross sensory/motor function was maintained during stimulation, enabling stimulation during physical therapy and activities of daily living. At 12 weeks following surgery, six of seven subjects had improved by >10% on the Six-Minute Walk Test compared to preoperative levels, and WOMAC scores improved by an average of 85% compared to before surgery. No falls, motor block, or lead infections were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

This feasibility study suggests that for TKA, ultrasound-guided percutaneous PNS is feasible in the immediate perioperative period and may provide analgesia without the undesirable systemic effects of opioids or quadriceps weakness induced by local anesthetics-based peripheral nerve blocks.

Does Adductor Canal Block Have a Synergistic Effect with Local Infiltration Analgesia for Enhancing Ambulation and Improving Analgesia after Total Knee Arthroplasty?

Purpose

We compared a single-injection adductor canal block (ACB) with or without local infiltration analgesia (LIA) for accelerating functional recovery and reducing postoperative pain after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Materials and Methods

Sixty-two patients undergoing TKA with simple spinal analgesia and ACB were randomized to receive either LIA (group A+L) or placebo LIA (group A). Postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) score for pain, Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and quadriceps strength, total dosage of rescue analgesia, time to first rescue analgesia, and adverse events were serially evaluated from postoperative day 1 to 3 months.

Results

There were no differences between both groups in pre- and postoperative VAS, TUG test, quadriceps strength 2 days, 3 days, 2 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months postoperatively. There were no differences in Knee Society clinical and function scores at 6 months and 1 year. However, group A+L had a significantly longer time for postoperative rescue analgesia (491 minutes vs. 143 minutes, p=0.04) with less patients requiring rescue analgesia during 6 hours after surgery (16.7% vs. 43.3%, p=0.024). Both groups had similarly high rates of patient satisfaction with low adverse event rates.

Conclusions

Combined ACB and LIA in TKA enhanced early ambulation with reduced and delayed rescue analgesia.

Comparison of Periarticular Local Infiltration Analgesia With Femoral Nerve Block for Total Knee Arthroplasty: a Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

BACKGROUND

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is accompanied by moderate-to-severe postoperative pain. Postoperative pain will hamper functional recovery and lower patients' satisfaction with surgery. Recently, periarticular local infiltration analgesia (LIA) has been widely used in TKA. However, there is no definite answer as to the efficacy and safety of LIA compared with femoral nerve block (FNB).

METHOD

Randomized controlled trials about relevant studies were searched from PubMed (1996 to July 2017), Embase (1980 to July 2017), and Cochrane Library (CENTRAL, July 2017). Ten studies which compared LIA with FNB methods were included in our meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Ten studies containing 950 patients met the inclusion criteria. Our pooled data indicated that LIA was as effective as the FNB in terms of visual analog scale score for pain at 24 hours (P = .52), 48 hours (P = .36), and 72 hours (P = .27), and total morphine consumption (P = .27), range of motion (P = .45), knee society score (P = .51), complications (P = .81), and length of hospital stay (P = .75).

CONCLUSIONS

Our current meta-analysis results demonstrated that there were no differences in efficacy between the FNB and LIA method.

Comparison of Adductor Canal Block Versus Local Infiltration Analgesia on Postoperative Pain and Functional Outcome after Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Introduction: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is associated with intense postoperative pain for which effective analgesia is essential to facilitate early postoperative recovery. Adductor canal block (ACB) and local infiltration analgesia (LIA) have become increasingly involved in postoperative pain management after TKA. We aimed to compare their efficacy and outcomes in patients undergoing TKA.

Materials and Methods: Sixty patients undergoing unilateral TKA were randomized to receive either postoperative single-injection ACB (Group A) or LIA (Group L) during the operation. All patients received spinal anaesthesia. Primary outcome was total morphine consumption over postoperative 24 hours. Visual analog pain scale, time to first and total dosage of rescue analgesia, performance-based evaluations [timed-up and go (TUG) test, quadriceps strength], side-effects, length of hospital stay and patient satisfaction were measured.

Results: Fifty-seven patients were available for analysis. Median total morphine consumption over 24 and 48 postoperative hours of Group A were significantly less than Group L (6/10 mg vs 13/25 mg, p, 0.008 and 0.001, respectively). Similarly, Group A had significantly lower VAS at postoperative 6, 12 and 18 hours, VAS at ambulation on postoperative (POD) 1-3, better TUG tests on POD 2 and during POD 3 than those of Group L. However, quadriceps strength and patient satisfaction were not different between both groups.

Conclusion: Patients undergoing TKA with single-injection ACB required less postoperative opioids than those with LIA. Furthermore, multimodal analgesia using ACB provided better postoperative analgesia, as well as performance-based activities, than those with LIA.