Adductor canal block versus intra-articular steroid and lidocaine injection for knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled study
10.3344/kjp.2022.35.2.191
- Author:
Lee Hwee MING
1
;
Chan Soo CHIN
;
Chung Tze YANG
;
Anwar SUHAIMI
Author Information
1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Taiping Hospital, Perak, Malaysia
- Publication Type:Clinical Research Article
- From:The Korean Journal of Pain
2022;35(2):191-201
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background:This study aimed to assess the efficacy of the adductor canal block (ACB) in comparison to intra-articular steroid-lidocaine injection (IASLI) to control chronic knee osteoarthritis (KOA) pain.
Methods:A randomized, single-blinded trial in an outpatient rehabilitation clinic re-cruiting chronic KOA with pain ≥ 6 months over one year. Following randomization,subjects received either a single ACB or IASLI under ultrasound guidance. Numerical rating scale (NRS) scores for pain, and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores (KOOS) were recorded at baseline, 1 hour, 1 month, and 3 months postinjection.
Results:Sixty-six knees were recruited; 2 were lost to follow-up. Age was normally distributed (P = 0.463), with more female subjects in both arms (P = 0.564). NRS scores improved significantly for both arms at 1 hour, with better pain scores for the IASLI arm (P = 0.416) at 1st month and ACB arm at 3rd month (P = 0.077) with larger effect size (Cohen’s d = 1.085). Lower limb function improved significantly in the IASLI arm at 1 month; the ACB subjects showed greater functional improvement at 3 months (Cohen’s d = 0.3, P = 0.346). Quality of life (QoL) improvement mirrored the functional scores whereby the IASLI group fared better at the 1st month (P = 0.071) but at the 3rd month the ACB group scored better (Cohen’s d = 0.08, P = 0.710).
Conclusions:ACB provides longer lasting analgesia which improves function and QoL in chronic KOA patients up to 3 months without any significant side effects.
