• M Espelund, J S Fomsgaard, J Haraszuk, J B Dahl, and O Mathiesen.
• Department of Anaesthesiology, Glostrup Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Glostrup, Denmark.
• Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2014 Mar 1;58(3):273-80.

BackgroundAdductor canal blockade (ACB) has been demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of post-operative pain after major knee surgery. We hypothesised that the ACB would reduce pain and analgesic requirements after minor arthroscopic knee surgery.MethodsSeventy-two patients scheduled for minor knee surgery were enrolled in this placebo-controlled, blinded trial. The patients were randomised to receive an ACB with either 30 ml ropivacaine 7.5 mg/ml (n = 36) or saline (n = 35) in addition to a basic analgesic regimen with paracetamol and ibuprofen. Primary outcome measure was pain during standing at 2 h after surgery. Secondary outcomes were pain at rest, while standing and after a 5-m walk; opioid consumption and opioid-related side effects 0-24 h after surgery.ResultsPain scores {median [interquartile range (IQR)]}, regarding primary outcome were 15 (0-26) mm in the ropivacaine vs. 17 (5-28) mm in the control group, 95% confidence interval (CI) (-10 to 4) mm, P = 0.41. Ketobemidone consumption 0-2 h post-operatively [median (IQR)] was lower in the ropivacaine vs. the control group: 0.0 (0.0-2.5) mg vs. 2.5 (0.0-5.0) mg, 95% CI: -2.5 to 0 mg, P = 0.01. No differences were observed for any other outcome.ConclusionNo significant analgesic effect of the ACB could be detected after minor arthroscopic knee surgery with a basic analgesic regimen with acetaminophen and ibuprofen, except from a minor reduction in immediate requirements for supplemental opioids. Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01254825.© 2013 The Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica Foundation. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

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