The Efficacy and Safety of Periarticular Injection in Total Joint Arthroplasty: A Direct Meta-Analysis

The analgetic effect of adjuvants in local infiltration analgesia - a systematic review with network meta-analysis of randomized trials

BACKGROUND

Local infiltration analgesia is commonly used for postoperative pain control after several surgical procedures including intra- and peri-articular as well as wound infiltration. Even though, various adjuvants injected with the local anesthetic have been studied in pairwise comparison or compared to peripheral nerve blocks, the question which adjuvant or combination of adjuvants is the most effective in prolonging the duration of different types of local infiltration analgesia (LIA) has not been answered conclusively.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this network meta-analysis was to determine the analgesic effectiveness and safety of adjuvants in local infiltration analgesia.

DESIGN

Systematic review of randomized controlled trials with network meta-analyses.

DATA SOURCES

A comprehensive literature search in Embase, CENTRAL, MEDLINE and Web of Science was performed up to March 2023.

RESULTS

The best interventions to prolong the duration of analgesia were dexamethasone (Ratio of Means (ROM) 3.33) followed by the combinations of clonidine + morphine (ROM 3.35) and morphine + magnesium sulfate (ROM 2.92), fentanyl (ROM 2.27), ketorolac (ROM 2.26), buprenorphine (ROM 2.04), morphine (ROM 1.93), magnesium sulfate (ROM 1.91), clonidine (ROM 1.89), dexmedetomidine (ROM 1.74) and tramadol (ROM 1.58). Serious adverse events were not reported with either investigated adjuvant.

CONCLUSION

There is moderate evidence that dexamethasone is the most effective adjuvant to prolong the duration of analgesia in LIA. The evidence for the alpha-2 agonists dexmedetomidine and clonidine is also moderate, but their effectivity to prolong analgesia stays behind dexamethasone. Clonidine and dexmedetomidine had a small detectable effect on pain scores, yet below clinical relevance, but the largest effect on MEQ consumption. The effects of different opioids were homogenous for all endpoints. The prespecified subgroup analysis of LIA of the knee did not show significantly different results than the pooled analysis.

STUDY REGISTRATION

PROSPERO 2020 CRD42020176154 (28.04.2020).

Trends of liposomal bupivacaine utilization in major lower extremity total joint arthroplasty in the USA: a population-based study

INTRODUCTION

Liposomal bupivacaine has been marketed for the achievement of long-acting local or regional anesthesia after major lower extremity total joint arthroplasty. However, it is comparatively expensive and controversy remains regarding its ability to decrease healthcare costs. With mounting evidence suggesting non-superiority in efficacy, compared with plain bupivacaine, we sought to investigate trends in liposomal bupivacaine use and identify changes in practice.

METHODS

We identified adult patients from the Premier Healthcare Database who underwent elective total joint arthroplasty between 2012 and 2021. Prevalence and trends of liposomal bupivacaine utilization were compared on the individual patient and hospital levels. Log-rank tests were performed to assess the influence of location, teaching status, or hospital size on time to hospital-level liposomal bupivacaine termination.

RESULTS

Among 103,165 total joint arthroplasty cases, liposomal bupivacaine use increased between 2012 and 2015 (from 0.4% to 22.8%) and decreased by approximately 1%-3% annually thereafter (15.7% in 2021). Liposomal bupivacaine was ever used in approximately 60% of hospitals. Hospital-level initiation of liposomal bupivacaine use peaked in 2014 and decreased thereafter (from 32.8% in 2013 to 4.3% in 2021), while termination rates increased (from 1.4% in 2014 to 9.9% in 2019). Non-teaching hospitals and those located in the South and West regions were more likely to retain liposomal bupivacaine longer than teaching or Midwest/Northeast hospitals, respectively (p=0.023 and p=0.014).

DISCUSSION

Liposomal bupivacaine use peaked around 2015 and has been declining thereafter on individual patient and hospital levels. How these trends correlate with health outcomes and expenditures would be a strategic target for future research.

Periarticular infiltration used in total joint replacements: an update and review article

Periarticular infiltration following total knee and hip arthroplasty has been demonstrated to be equivalent to peripheral nerve blocks for postoperative pain management. The ideal cocktail has not been established yet. We have conducted a literature search on PubMed and Embase. Our search criteria included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews (SRs). We tried to only include the most recent studies to keep the information current. The included research focused at Dexmedetomidine, Liposomal Bupivacaine, Ropivacaine, Epinephrine, Ketorolac, Morphine, Ketamine and Glucocorticosteroids. Each medication's mode of action, duration, ideal dosage, contraindications, side effects and effectiveness have been summarized in the review article. This article will help the clinician to make an informed evidence-based decision about which medications to include in their ideal cocktail.

Intraoperative landmark-based genicular nerve block versus periarticular infiltration for postoperative analgesia in total knee arthroplasty: a randomized non-inferiority trial

INTRODUCTION

Genicular nerve blocks (GNBs) are an emerging technique that have been used as a part of multimodal analgesia for total knee arthroplasty. The efficacy of intraoperative landmark-based GNBs, a recently introduced technique, has been established. We hypothesized that it would provide non-inferior postoperative analgesia compared with periarticular infiltration (PAI) when combined with continuous adductor canal block.

METHODS

This study randomized 140 patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty to receive either intraoperative landmark-based GNB (GNB group) or PAI (PAI group), with 139 completing the study. The primary outcomes were the pain scores at rest and during movement at 12 hours postoperatively on an 11-point Numerical Rating Scale; the non-inferiority margin was 1. Pain scores at additional time points, intravenous morphine consumption, time to first rescue analgesia, functional performance and muscle strength tests, and sleep disturbance were also assessed.

RESULTS

At 12 hours postoperatively, the PAI and GNB groups had median resting pain scores of 0 (0-2) and 0 (0-2), respectively. The median difference was 0 (95% CI -0.4 to 0.4, p=1), with the 95% CI upper limit below the prespecified non-inferiority margin. The median pain score during movement was 1.5 (0-2.3) and 2 (1-3.1) in the PAI and GNB groups, respectively. The median difference was 0.9 (95% CI 0.3 to 1.6, p=0.004), failing to demonstrate non-inferiority. The GNB group had higher intravenous morphine consumption at 12 hours postoperatively and a shorter time to first rescue analgesia.

CONCLUSIONS

GNB compared with PAI provides non-inferior resting pain relief. Non-inferiority was not established for pain during movement.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

TCTR20220406001 (www.thaiclinicaltrials.org).

Analgesic Trends in the Management of Pain Following Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Comparison of Peri-Articular Infiltration, Adductor Canal Block, and Adjuvant Treatment for Posterior Knee Pain

The rising number of total knee arthroplasties (TKA's) in the United States increases demand for perioperative pain modalities, which can promote early mobilization and discharge. Over the decades, a focus has shifted from opioid-dominant regimens to motor-sparing multimodal protocols, which have not only improved pain scores and reduced opioid consumption but also improved overall patient outcomes. In this article, we briefly review the evolution of post-operative pain management in patients undergoing TKA and summarize the literature on the most popular modalities currently used including periarticular injections, adductor canal blocks, distal selective nerve blocks, as well as liposomal bupivacaine as part of a multimodal approach.

Comparison of ultrasound-guided genicular nerve block and knee periarticular infiltration for postoperative pain and functional outcomes in knee arthroplasty - A randomised trial

Background and Aims

Optimal analgesia after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) enhances patients' and surgical outcomes. The study investigated the ultrasound-guided genicular nerve block versus the periarticular infiltration in TKA.

Methods

Eighty-eight patients aged above 50 years scheduled for unilateral TKA were randomised as: Group 1 received intraoperative periarticular infiltration (0.5 mL adrenaline [4.5 µg/mL], 20 mL bupivacaine 0.5% with 89.5 mL saline) and Group 2 received immediate postoperative genicular nerve block (15 mL bupivacaine 0.25% with 2.5 g/mL adrenaline). The postoperative morphine consumption was during the first two postoperative days the primary outcome. The secondary outcomes were time to rescue analgesia, pain scores and functional outcomes. The comparison between groups was performed using the Chi-square test, the Student's t-test and the Mann-Whitney U test, as appropriate.

Results

The postoperative morphine consumption during the first two postoperative days and pain scores at rest at 12 h postoperatively were less in Group 1 than in Group 2 (P < 0.001). Pain scores during movement on the first postoperative day were lower in the periarticular group than the genicular group at 6, 12 and 24 h (P < 0.001). At 18 h, pain scores were higher in the periarticular group than in the genicular group at rest and movement (P < 0.001). Quadriceps motor strength scores were comparable between groups (P > 0.05). The knee range of motion and time up and go test during both days showed a statistically significant difference in the periarticular group compared to the genicular group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Periarticular infiltration and genicular nerve block yield effective postoperative analgesia and functional outcomes after TKA without motor affection.

Periarticular Injection in Total Knee Arthroplasty

Optimal pain management after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) can expedite postoperative recovery, improve perioperative outcomes, and increase patient satisfaction. Periarticular injections (PAIs) have become increasingly used to improve pain management after TKA. Similar to peripheral nerve blocks, the use of intraoperative PAIs can lower pain scores and expedite discharge from the hospital. However, there is notable variability in the ingredients and administration techniques of PAIs. Currently, no standard of care exists for PAIs, especially in the setting of adjuvant peripheral nerve blocks. This study seeks to evaluate the ingredients, administration techniques, and outcomes of PAIs used during TKA.