Comparison of Intra-Articular Injection and Femoral Nerve Block Using a Combination of Levobupivacaine with Clonidine for Postoperative Analgesia after Arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament ReconstructionA Randomised Double-Blind Clinical Trial

Abstract

Introduction: Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is the most commonly injured ligament in the knee. Arthroscopic ACL reconstruction is the gold standard procedure for treating ACL tears. Good postoperative analgesia is the secret for immediate postoperative rehabilitation. Various techniques, such as Femoral Nerve Blocks (FNB), epidural blocks, adductor canal blocks, and Intra-Articular injections (IA), are used to manage postoperative pain. Aim: To compare the quality of postoperative analgesia using a combination of levobupivacaine with clonidine via IA and FNB in patients undergoing ACL reconstruction under spinal anaesthesia. Materials and Methods: This randomised, double-blinded trial was conducted at Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences, Puducherry, India, from August 2016 to May 2018. Forty patients with American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I and II, aged between 18-60 years, undergoing arthroscopic ACL repair under spinal anaesthesia were randomly assigned to two groups, with 20 patients in each group. After the surgery, patients in group 1 received FNB with 15 mL of 0.25% levobupivacaine and 30 mcg clonidine, while patients in group 2 received IA with 15 mL of 0.25% levobupivacaine and 30 mcg clonidine. Parameters such as the total duration of sensory block, the need for rescue analgesia, and total analgesic consumption within 24 hours were recorded postoperatively. The data were analysed using Student’s unpaired t-test, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Chi-square test, and Fisher’s-exact test. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistical package for the Social Science (SPSS) software (version 20.0 and info version 3.5.1) for Windows, with a p-value <0.05 considered significant. Results: The quality of postoperative analgesia, including the total duration of block, the need for rescue analgesia, and total analgesic consumption within 24 hours, was similar in both groups. The total duration of block was 216±36.041 minutes for the FNB group and 224±47.395 minutes for the intra-articular group, with a p-value of 0.552. The time for rescue analgesia was 307±87.666 minutes for the FNB group and 305±82.00 minutes for the intra-articular group, with a p-value of 0.963. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of sex, age, weight, or ASA physical status classification. Conclusion: The present study showed that the postoperative analgesia following arthroscopic ACL reconstruction was equally effective in both groups. Both combinations reduced postoperative pain, expedited the return of postoperative function, maintained vital parameters, and had no apparent side-effects. However, IA may be considered as the preferred option since it is easier to perform than a femoral block.