Femoral Triangle + IPACK Blocks for ACL Reconstruction Analgesia

An adequate balance between analgesia and motor function is an essential requirement to facilitate functional recovery and early discharge after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery. Proximal nerve blocks (i.e. femoral and sciatic nerve blocks) are associated with optimal analgesia, but they can cause muscle weakness, interfering with rehabilitation and increasing the risk of falls . A recent randomized controlled trial concluded that, compared to mid-and distal ACB, a distal femoral triangle block (FTB) is associated with lower opioid consumption and improved postoperative analgesia for ambulatory ACL reconstruction. In ACL reconstruction surgery there are other potential sources of pain not covered by a FTB, such as intra-articular structures (menisci, cruciate ligaments), posterior knee capsule and the graft donor site. Evidence supporting the addition of an IPACK block to a FTB has been studied for patients undergoing total knee replacement, nonetheless, there is no trial analyzing the analgesic contribution of IPACK to a FTB in the context of ACL reconstruction surgery. In this multicentric trial, the investigators set out to analyze the analgesic benefit of adding an IPACK block to a FTB.