Adductor canal vs. femoral nerve catheter for TKR
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A comparison of continuous adductor canal catheter infusion versus continuous femoral nerve catheter infusion for total knee replacement surgery
IRAS ID
150834
Contact name
Matt Oldman
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
The study examines patients undergoing total knee replacement surgery at Derriford Hospital and looks at the effectiveness of methods of pain control after the operation. The aim is to compare the current regimen (femoral nerve catheter infusion) with another recognised technique (adductor canal catheter infusion). The former involves placing a small plastic tube next to a large nerve in the groin (the femoral nerve) at the time of surgery, the aim of which is to infuse a solution of local anaesthetic down it to reduce pain in the days following the surgery. An adductor canal infusion is the same, but is placed mid-way down the thigh rather than in the groin and so may result in the local anaesthetic affecting a different combination of nerves. Femoral nerve catheter infusions of local anaesthetic (bupivicaine in this case) provide good pain relief following surgery, but may cause the affected leg to feel weak and numb whilst the infusion is effective. It has been proposed that this can delay patient mobilisation and lengthen hospital stay. The adductor canal catheter nerve infusion involves placement of the same catheter approximately 12 to 18 inches further down the leg and delivery of the same local anaesthetic solution. It has already been demonstrated that single injections of local anaesthetic to the adductor canal can be effective in preventing pain following knee surgery but with significantly less leg weakness compared to a femoral nerve block. The study hopes to determine whether an adductor canal nerve catheter infusion in total knee replacement patients will provide comparable levels of post-operative pain relief to those receiving a femoral nerve infusion, but with less leg weakness and improved mobilisation.
REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/SW/1161
Date of REC Opinion
4 Mar 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion