Adductor canal block performed 20 hours after total knee arthroplasty to improve postoperative analgesia and functional recovery: a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial.

Background: The goal of postoperative pain protocols in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is to get pain free patients throughout severe pain period without impairing walking ability. The aim of the study was to investigate if an adductor canal block performed 20 hours after TKA, in patients treated with systemic analgesia and intraoperative local infiltration anesthesia (LIA), improves postoperative pain and functional outcomes.

Methods: A prospective randomized, double-blinded controlled study was conducted.