Surgical technology international
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Postoperative pain after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) can be an impediment to patient recovery. Many commonly used pain control modalities are effective, but are also associated with adverse effects. Other modalities, such as adductor canal blocks (ACB) and multimodal periarticular analgesia (MPA), have gained popularity due to their efficacy and high safety profile. However, to the best of our knowledge, there are no published studies indicating if a therapeutic advantage exists between the two pain control modalities. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the: 1) length of stay; 2) level of pain; 3) discharge status; and 4) opioid consumption, in TKA patients who received either ACB or MPA. ⋯ Total knee arthroplasty patients who received an adductor canal block had shorter lengths of stay when compared to those who received multimodal peri-articular analgesia. Shortened hospital stays may be cost-effective for institutions and providers, however, larger studies are needed to further assess the effect on quality of care provided.