Riassunto dello studio

Seventy-two people undergoing unilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) were randomized to receive either an infiltration of local anesthetic between the interspace between the popliteal artery and capsule of the knee (IPACK) combined with an adductor canal blockade (ACB) during surgery or ACB alone. The primary outcome of interest was cumulative opioid consumption during the first 24-hours. Secondary outcomes included cumulative opioid consumption in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), 8, 16, and 24 hours until discharge. Furthermore, average and worst pain scores were measured at rest and during physical therapy in the PACU, length of stay in the hospital and PACU, as well as pain scores on post-operative day 1 in the morning and evening at rest and during physical therapy. No statistical differences were observed for all secondary outcomes. However, lower pain scores at rest and worst pain scores in the PACU were reported for patients in the IPACK group combined with ACB.