PAIN CONTROL THROUGH LOCAL ANAESTHESIA VERSUS FEMORAL NERVE BLOCK AFTER TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY

ObjectivesThe goal of this retrospective study was to compare two different processes of pain control after total knee arthroplasty (TKA): local anesthesia versus femoral nerve block. The tested hypothesis was that the patient's ability to be discharged was obtained sooner with the local anesthesia process.Methods110 patients consecutively operated on for TKA by a single surgeon without any selection criterion were included. The study group included 58 patients operated on under general anesthesia with infiltration of the surgical field with local anesthesia. The control group included 52 patients operated on under general anesthesia and continuous femoral nerve block. In the study group, 200 ml of ropivacaine 5% were injected into the surgical field, and an intra-articular catheter was left to allow continuous infusion of ropivacaine (20 ml/h during 24 hours). The control group was treated by a femoral nerve block with ropivacaine during 24 hours. Discharge was considered allowed when the patient was abl...