Analgesic Benefits of Genicular Nerve Blocks of the Posterior Knee for Patients Undergoing ACL Reconstruction

• Status: Terminated
• Trial end date: 2015-12-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

Outpatients scheduled to have ACL surgery typically receive a femoral nerve block to provide analgesia for the front of the knee. Postoperatively, these patients will often report pain in the back of the knee. Local anesthetic infiltration of the posterior aspect of the knee results in blockade of the genicular nerves of the posterior knee. These nerves originate off of the tibial and common peroneal nerves and their blockade will result in improved posterior knee pain relief and may decrease narcotic consumption compared to patients who receive the same infiltration with normal saline.

• Phase: Phase 4
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Northwestern University
• Treatments: Analgesics; Bupivacaine

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. patients who are presenting for ACL reconstruction

2. candidates for peripheral nerve blocks patients

3. ASA 1-3

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patient refusal

2. ASA Classification of 4 or higher

3. Pre-existing neuropathy in the femoral or sciatic distribution

4. Coagulopathy

5. Infection at the site

6. Non-English speaking or non-reading patients

7. Chronic opioid use (>3months)

8. Pregnancy

9. Any other contra-indication to regional anesthesia

10. Failed femoral nerve block

11. Sciatic nerve block placed due to severe pain not managed by intravenous and oral agents.