Adductor Canal Block and Local Anesthetic Versus Local Anesthetic Alone in ACL Reconstruction: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.
Am J Sports MedAug 3, 2026 (epub)
Reza Ojaghi, Eric Locke, Pardise Elmi et al.
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In 30 seconds
This double-blind randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of local infiltration analgesia (LIA) alone versus LIA combined with adductor canal block (ACB) in 100 patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). The study found no significant difference in 24-hour opioid consumption between the two groups (P = .109), suggesting that LIA alone is sufficient for postoperative analgesia in ACLR.
Key findings
- No significant difference in 24-hour opioid consumption: P = .109.
- VAS pain scores at 24 hours postoperatively were similar: P = .0804.
- Early functional recovery via straight leg raise performance was equivalent: P = .6711.
- QoR-15 scores and KOOS values showed no significant differences at 1 week: P = .6486 and P = .9054.
Why it matters
Understanding the efficacy of analgesic techniques is crucial for optimizing postoperative recovery. This study suggests that LIA alone may be adequate, potentially streamlining surgical protocols and resource allocation.