Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Femoral nerve block as a new pain control after total knee arthroplasty has not been widely carried out.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of continuous femoral nerve block for perioperative management of pain in total knee arthroplasty.
METHODS: A total of 77 patients were randomized into study group (32 cases) and control group (35 cases). All patients received a basic analgesic regimen: oral administration of celecoxib preoperatively and injection of cocktail therapy intraoperatively. In addition, the study group received continuous femoral nerve block postoperatively. A morphine patient-controlled analgesia pump was also available as a rescue analgesic to all the patients.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The study group had less pain (P < 0.05) within the first postoperative 48 hours, was more satisfied with the analgesia (P < 0.05) and used less morphine (P < 0.05) compared with the control group. Fewer patients were nauseated, vomited or were drowsy in the study group (P < 0.05). Also, the study group achieved better knee flexion at 1 week after surgery (P < 0.05). However, after 3 months, there were no significant functional differences between the groups (P > 0.05). A continuous femoral nerve block leads to better analgesia, less morphine consumption and less morphine-related side effects after total knee arthroplasty. Early functional recovery is improved. Therefore, the method is a safe and effective analgesia with satisfactory results.