Femoral Triangle + IPACK Blocks for ACL Reconstruction Analgesia

Summary

An adequate balance between analgesia and motor function is an essential requirement to facilitate functional recovery and early discharge after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery. Proximal nerve blocks (i.e. femoral and sciatic nerve blocks) are associated with optimal analgesia, but they can cause muscle weakness, interfering with rehabilitation and increasing the risk of falls . A recent randomized controlled trial concluded that, compared to mid-and distal ACB, a distal femoral triangle block (FTB) is associated with lower opioid consumption and improved postoperative analgesia for ambulatory ACL reconstruction. In ACL reconstruction surgery there are other potential sources of pain not covered by a FTB, such as intra-articular structures (menisci, cruciate ligaments), posterior knee capsule and the graft donor site. Evidence supporting the addition of an IPACK block to a FTB has been studied for patients undergoing total knee replacement, nonetheless, there is no trial analyzing the analgesic contribution of IPACK to a FTB in the context of ACL reconstruction surgery. In this multicentric trial, the investigators set out to analyze the analgesic benefit of adding an IPACK block to a FTB.

Timeline

Start

2022-06-01

Primary completion

2022-09-30

Completion

2022-10-15

Publications

• Background Wilde J, Bedi A, Altchek DW. Revision anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Sports Health. 2014 Nov;6(6):504-18. doi: 10.1177/1941738113500910.
• Background Sharma S, Iorio R, Specht LM, Davies-Lepie S, Healy WL. Complications of femoral nerve block for total knee arthroplasty. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2010 Jan;468(1):135-40. doi: 10.1007/s11999-009-1025-1. Epub 2009 Aug 13.
• Background Abdallah FW, Whelan DB, Chan VW, Prasad GA, Endersby RV, Theodoropolous J, Oldfield S, Oh J, Brull R. Adductor Canal Block Provides Noninferior Analgesia and Superior Quadriceps Strength Compared with Femoral Nerve Block in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. Anesthesiology. 2016 May;124(5):1053-64. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000001045.
• Background Abdallah FW, Mejia J, Prasad GA, Moga R, Chahal J, Theodoropulos J, Dwyer T, Brull R. Opioid- and Motor-sparing with Proximal, Mid-, and Distal Locations for Adductor Canal Block in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Anesthesiology. 2019 Sep;131(3):619-629. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000002817.
• Background Bendtsen TF, Moriggl B, Chan V, Pedersen EM, Borglum J. Redefining the adductor canal block. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2014 Sep-Oct;39(5):442-3. doi: 10.1097/AAP.0000000000000119. No abstract available.
• Background Johnston DF, Sondekoppam RV, Uppal V, Litchfield R, Giffin R, Ganapathy S. Effect of combining peri-hamstring injection or anterior obturator nerve block on the analgesic efficacy of adductor canal block for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a randomised controlled trial. Br J Anaesth. 2020 Mar;124(3):299-307. doi: 10.1016/j.bja.2019.11.032. Epub 2020 Jan 21.
• Background Johnston DF, Black ND, Cowden R, Turbitt L, Taylor S. Spread of dye injectate in the distal femoral triangle versus the distal adductor canal: a cadaveric study. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2019 Jan;44(1):39-45. doi: 10.1136/rapm-2018-000002.
• Background Chan E, Howle R, Onwochei D, Desai N. Infiltration between the popliteal artery and the capsule of the knee (IPACK) block in knee surgery: a narrative review. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2021 Sep;46(9):784-805. doi: 10.1136/rapm-2021-102681. Epub 2021 May 14.
• Background Bushnell BD, Sakryd G, Noonan TJ. Hamstring donor-site block: evaluation of pain control after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Arthroscopy. 2010 Jul;26(7):894-900. doi: 10.1016/j.arthro.2009.11.022. Epub 2010 May 13.

Drugs

Indications

No indication recorded.