Multimodal Analgesia in Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Trial on Additional Efficacy of Periarticular Anesthesia

Pain management is a main determinant of functional recovery after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We performed a randomized, controlled, double blind study to evaluate additive efficacy of periarticular anesthesia in patients undergoing TKA in reducing post-operative pain, operated limb edema and improving post-operative mobility. Patients were randomly assigned to study or control group; all subjects received the same analgesic protocol; before wound closure, the study group received also a periarticular anesthesia (ropivacaine 1% 20 mL). The results show no statistical differences in any of the variable evaluated. Our data suggest that additive periarticular anesthetic protocol with ropivacaine 1% 20 mL is not superior to oral and intravenous analgesia alone in patients undergoing TKA, regarding post-operative pain control, operated limb edema reduction and post-operative mobility improvement.