The Efficacy of Local Infiltration Analgesia for Postoperative Pain Management After Total Knee Arthroplasty

This prospective, double-blinded, randomized controlled study evaluates the effects of peripheral nerve blocks with and without local infiltration analgesia for postoperative pain management after primary total knee arthroplasty. There are no any studies that show the demand for local infiltration analgesia when together peripheral nerve blocks are performed. Patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty will be randomly assigned to receive local infiltration analgesia with or without (placebo group) local anesthetic. All patients will receive peripheral nerve blocks for postoperative analgesia: femoral triangle and distal adductor canal blocks. Comparison of these two groups of patients will be based on the effects on postoperative pain control, the extent of motor blockade, the ability of early leg motion and ambulation, patients satisfaction rates over the time of clinical recovery. Consequently, the investigators hypothesized that peripheral nerve blocks (femoral triangle and distal adductor canal blocks) with and without local infiltration analgesia provide similar postoperative pain relieving effects and the ability of early mobilization after total knee arthroplasty.