2024 AAHKS Annual Meeting: Pre vs Postoperative Adductor Canal Block for Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Eighty-four patients undergoing primary TKA were randomized to receive an adductor canal block either preoperatively (n=42) or postoperatively (n=42). The primary outcome of interest was postoperative pain at 2 and 24 hours. Secondary outcomes included opioid consumption (measured in morphine milligram equivalents), nausea, vomiting, length of stay, and likelihood of same-day discharge. Outcomes were assessed at 2 hours and 24 hours postoperatively, as well as for length of stay in hours and nights. Overall, the results revealed no significant differences between preoperative and postoperative block placement groups across all outcomes measured. These findings suggest that the timing of adductor canal block placement does not impact short-term recovery metrics following TKA.