Continuous adductor canal block is superior to adductor canal block alone or adductor canal block combined with IPACK block (interspace between the popliteal artery and the posterior capsule of knee) in postoperative analgesia and ambulation following total knee arthroplasty: randomized control trial

BACKGROUND

ACB is given as single injection or as continuous block or combined with IPACK block (interspace between the popliteal artery and the posterior capsule of knee) to reduce postoperative knee pain after total knee arthroplasty. The aim of this study is to evaluate the technique of ACB that is superior in controlling postoperative pain, decrease opioid consumption and facilitate ambulation in the immediate postoperative period.

METHODS

A total of 171 patients were analyzed from a group of 180 patients who were randomized into three groups: (1) ACB alone, (2) continuous ACB infusion via catheter (CACB) and (3) ACB combined with IPACK. The primary outcome was pain at rest and after ambulation measured by VAS scale every 8 h till 48 h after surgery. The secondary outcome measures were opioid consumption in morphine equivalents, ambulation distance measured in feet on postoperative day 2, timed up and go test, 30 s chair stand test, sitting active extension lag test and maximal knee flexion at discharge.

RESULTS

VAS score at rest and after ambulation, opioid consumption was significantly lower (p < 0.05%) in CACB group compared to other study groups. Similarly, patients in CACB showed significantly (p < 0.05%) better results in the secondary outcome measures. There were no significant differences in the outcomes between ACB and ACB combined with IPACK.

CONCLUSION

CACB allows better pain control and less opioid consumption in the immediate postoperative period after TKA compared to ACB alone or ACB with IPACK resulting in better ambulation and rehabilitation. Clinical Trial Registration Number CTRI/2019/03/018239 registered on March 25, 2019.

A comparative study evaluating the role of adductor canal block catheter versus intraarticular analgesic infusion on knee pain and range of motion in the immediate postoperative period: a prospective multicenter trial

Postoperative pain after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is an important determinant of hospital stay and rehabilitation and thereby functional outcome. Adductor canal block (ACB) and intraarticular analgesic infiltration through catheters (IAC) are techniques of multimodal analgesia which have shown to control postoperative pain satisfactorily. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of ACB versus IAC in reducing immediate postoperative pain and thereby allow early rehabilitation. A multicenter quasi-experimental study was conducted on 511 patients undergoing unilateral primary TKA from March 2016 to April 2017 who either received ACB with catheter (Group I, n = 350 patients) or IAC (Group II, n = 172 patients) for postoperative pain control. All the patients were assessed for severity of pain by Visual Analogue Scale at 8, 24, 48, 72 h postoperatively and knee range of motion (ROM) on the day of discharge. There was no significant difference in pain scores on postoperative day (POD) 0 (1.09 ± 0.30 vs. 0.98 ± 0.46, p = 0.45) and POD 1 (1.21 ± 0.45 vs. 1.00 ± 0.00, p = 0.11) and in mean ROM on the day of discharge between ACB and IAC (88.40° ± 7.96° vs. 88.34° ± 5.74°; p = 0.93) groups. This study shows that both ACB and IAC provide satisfactory postoperative analgesia with sparing of quadriceps function and good knee ROM leading to early rehabilitation and reduced hospital with no advantage of one technique over another.

Clinical outcomes in periarticular knee fractures with flexible fixation using far cortical locking screws in locking plate: a prospective study

PURPOSE

Periarticular fractures around the knee joint are treated traditionally by locking plates which provide excellent stability but suppress callus formation. Far cortical locking (FCL) screws allow axial motion and enhance uniform callus formation. Our study aims to evaluate the outcomes of FCL screws in traditional locking plate in periarticular fractures of the knee.

METHODS

Thirty patients with periarticular fractures of the knee joint were operated with locking plate using FCL screws. All patients were evaluated clinically and radiographically using X-rays at 6, 12, 24 weeks, 1 year and with CT scan at 12-weeks follow-up.

RESULTS

The average time for complete union was 20 weeks in tibial fractures and 24 weeks in femur fractures. Average time to full weight bearing ambulation was 4.8 ± 0.93 weeks. One patient had delayed union in which union was complete after 9 months.

CONCLUSION

This study shows that FCL screws in locking plates allow uniform callus formation and fracture union with minimal complication rates.

Comparative analysis of influence of adductor canal block and multimodal periarticular infiltration versus adductor canal block alone on pain and knee range of movement after total knee arthroplasty: a prospective non-randomised study

PURPOSE

Pain management after total knee arthroplasty has seen many recent advances such as peripheral nerve blocks in order to improve the functional outcome and reduce morbidity after surgery. Adductor canal block (ACB) and multimodal periarticular infiltration (MPI) are two techniques that have been proven to be efficacious individually. We hypothesized that the combination of ACB with MPI would reduce pain and improve knee range of movement (ROM) compared to ACB alone.

METHODS

A prospective non-randomized study was conducted from July 2015 to December 2015 in our institution in a total of 200 consecutive patients undergoing unilateral total knee arthroplasty who were either given ACB alone (Group 1, n = 100 patients) or ACB + MPI (Group 2, n = 100 patients). All the patients were assessed for severity of pain by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at 8, 24, 48 h postoperatively and knee ROM after 48 h.

RESULTS

Patients in ACB + MPI group had significantly better VAS scores at 8 h postoperatively but showed no significant difference at 24 and 48 h compared to ACB group. Patients in ACB + MPI group showed significantly better knee ROM after 48 h.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study concludes that patients receiving ACB + MPI have demonstrated better VAS scores in the immediate postoperative period but have no significant difference at the time of discharge.

A comparative analysis of the role of Tranexamic acid as an independent variable in reducing intraoperative blood loss in patients undergoing conventional total knee arthroplasty versus computer-assisted total knee arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

Blood loss in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is an area of significant concern as it has an effect on patient morbidity and hospital stay. Among many different modalities to reduce blood loss, the use of Tranexamic acid has become a standard procedure nowadays. The aim of our study was to determine if Tranexamic acid alone decreases blood loss as an independent variable irrespective of other blood loss preserving measures.

METHOD

This prospective non-randomized study included patients undergoing unilateral TKA by conventional method (Group 1) and computer-assisted TKA (Group 2). All the patients in both groups received Tranexamic acid in a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight prior to inflation of tourniquet. Blood loss in both the groups was calculated using Nadler's formula, and haemoglobin (Hb) level was calculated on day one and day three after surgery.

RESULTS

The mean drop of Hb in Group 1 was 1.608 and 1.56 g/dl in Group 2 which was statistically significant (p < 0.001); however, none of the patients in either of the groups actually required any blood transfusion postoperatively. Although there was a significant drop in haemoglobin and haematocrit in both the groups, on comparison, there was no significant difference in blood loss and fall in Hb levels between the groups (p > 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Tranexamic acid decreases blood loss in patients undergoing TKA independent of all the other blood conserving procedures.

Intralesional autologous mesenchymal stem cells in management of osteonecrosis of femur: a preliminary study

BACKGROUND

Management of early stages of osteonecrosis aims to prevent the collapse of the femoral head by attempts at restoring the vascularity of femoral head. Bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells with their angiogenic and osteogenic properties appear to have the potential to halt the disease process when injected intralesionally following core decompression.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty patients (60 hips) with stage I, II or III (ARCO system) osteonecrosis of femoral head were treated by either core decompression and isolated mononuclear cells (group A) or core decompression and unprocessed bone marrow injection (group B). The patients were followed up clinically and radiologically for a minimum of 2 years. The functional outcome was assessed in terms of Harris hip score, and disease progression was assessed radiologically by comparing the preoperative and follow-up MRI at the end of 2 years.

RESULTS

On 2-year follow-up, there was considerable improvement in the hip function as measured by the Harris hip score in both the groups (p = 0.031). On MRI, there was a decrease in the size of the lesion in group A (p = 0.03). Three of 30 hips (10.0 %) in group B required total hip replacement.

CONCLUSIONS

Implantation of autologous bone marrow stem cells in avascular necrosis of femoral head is a safe and effective procedure and has better outcome than bone marrow for early stage of avascular necrosis of femoral head.