Original ContributionPostoperative analgesic efficacy of fascia iliaca block versus periarticular injection for total knee arthroplasty

•To compare fascia iliaca block versus periarticular injection for knee arthroplasty•Group FI received fascia iliaca block; Group PI received periarticular injection.•Pain scores, rescue analgesic use were similar, morphine consumption was higher in Group PI.•Fascia block is an effective, alternative method to periarticular injection for TKA pain.

Study objectiveThis study evaluated the postoperative analgesic efficacies of fascia iliaca block and periarticular drug injection techniques after TKA (total knee arthroplasty) surgeries.DesignProspective, randomized clinical trial.SettingUniversity Teaching and Research Center.PatientsSeventy-one American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I-III patients between 48 and 70 years of age who underwent total knee arthroplasty were randomized.InterventionsTenoxicam (20 mg) was administered intramuscularly to both groups of patients 30 minutes before surgery. Patients were randomized into two groups to receive fascia iliaca block before the induction of anesthesia (Group FI) or periarticular drug injection during the surgery (Group PI). All surgeries were performed under general anesthesia using standard techniques. Postoperative analgesia was provided with patient-controlled intravenous morphine.MeasurementsTotal morphine consumption was the primary outcome measure and was recorded postoperatively at 1, 2, 6, 12 and 24 hours. Pain levels at rest and on movement (knee flexion) were evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and recorded at the same time points. Patients' demographics, rescue analgesic demands, side effects, hemodynamics, and satisfaction scores were also recorded.Main resultsThe groups had similar VAS scores both at rest and on movement (P > .05). However, the amount of cumulative morphine and use at each follow-up period was higher in Group PI (P < .0001). The groups did not differ significantly in rescue analgesic use or side effects, such as nausea/vomiting, hemodynamic variables, and patient satisfaction scores (P > .05).ConclusionsFascia iliaca block may be used as an alternative method to periarticular injection, and it effectively reduces the amount of morphine used to relieve post-TKA pain.