2024 AAOS Annual Meeting: Adductor Canal Block versus Adductor Canal Block plus Interspace between the Popliteal Artery and Capsule of the Posterior Knee Block for Postoperative Analgesia following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction with Bone-Patellar Tendon-Bone Autograft: A Single-Blind, Randomized Controlled Study

96 patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using a bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft were randomized to receive either a standard adductor canal block (ACB; n=47) or ACB + an additional block in the interspace between the popliteal artery and the capsule of the posterior knee (IPACK; n=49). Outcomes of interest include pain on a visual analogue scale (VAS), satisfaction with pain control, and opioid consumption in morphine milligram equivalents (MME), collected at 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, and 1 week postoperatively. Patients in the IPACK group reported significantly lower opioid use at 24, 48, and 72 hours compared to the ACB group. VAS pain was statistically lower in the IPACK group compared to the ACB group at 24 and 72 hours. Patient satisfaction was also higher in the IPACK group compared to the ACB group at 24 hours. No significant differences were found between groups for any outcome at 1 week.