Adductor canal block with local infiltrative analgesia compared with local infiltrate analgesia for pain control after total knee arthroplasty

BACKGROUND This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficiency and safety of the combined adductor canal block with peri-articular infiltration versus periarticular infiltration alone for pain control after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). METHODS PubMed, Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched to identify articles comparing the combined adductor canal block with peri-articular infiltration and periarticular infiltration alone for pain control after TKA. Main outcomes were numeric rating scale (NRS) at postoperative day (POD) 0-2 and opioid consumption. Meta-analysis was performed using Stata 11.0 software. RESULTS Four randomized controlled trial (RCTs) including 297 patients met the inclusion criteria. The present meta-analysis indicated that there were significant differences between the groups regarding NRS score at POD 0 (weighted mean difference [WMD] = -0.849, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -1.345 to -0.353, P = .001), POD 1 (WMD = -0.960, 95% CI: -1.474 to -0.446, P = .000), and POD 2 (WMD = -0.672, 95% CI: -1.163 to -0.181, P = .007) after TKA. Significant differences were found in terms of opioid consumption at POD 0 (WMD = -3.761, 95% CI: -6.192 to -1.329, P = .002), POD 1 (WMD = -4.795, 95% CI: -8.181 to -1.409, P = .006), and POD 2 (WMD = -2.867, 95% CI: -4.907 to -0.827, P = .006). CONCLUSION Combined adductor canal block with peri-articular infiltration could significantly reduce NRS scores and opioid consumption in comparison with periarticular infiltration alone following TKA. Additionally, there is a lower incidence of nausea and vomiting in the combined groups.