IPACK or Selective Tibial Nerve Block for ACL Reconstruction With an Adductor Canal Block

NCT ID: NCT05303233

Last Updated: 2025-08-08

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

80 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2022-05-01

Study Completion Date

2025-07-14

Brief Summary

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The purpose of this study is to compare the analgesic efficacy of the combination of an adductor canal and selective tibial nerve blocks versus adductor canal block and IPACK after ACL reconstruction under general anaesthesia.

Detailed Description

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The hypothesis of this study is that a combined adductor canal and selective tibial nerve block provides better analgesia than a combined adductor canal block and IPACK in patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

This randomized controlled trial will include two groups: an adductor canal block plus IPACK group (group IPACK) and an adductor canal block plus tibial selective nerve block group (group TIBIAL). After written informed consent, patients will be allocated to one of the groups, following a computer-generated list of randomization.

Prior to surgery, all patients will have an adductor canal block with 20ml of ropivacaine 0.75%. In group TIBIAL the patient will receive in addition a selective tibial nerve block with 5 ml of ropivacaine 0.75%. In group IPACK the patient will receive in addition an IPACK with 20ml of ropivacaine 0.2%. In both groups, patients will have the surgery under general anaesthesia with a multimodal analgesic regimen inclusive of iv dexamethasone 8 mg, iv magnesium sulfate 40 mg.kg-1, iv ketorolac 30 mg, and iv acetaminophen 1000 mg.

After surgery, all patients will be prescribed an iv patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) of morphine (boluses of 2 mg available every 10 min, maximum of 40 mg every 4 hours) along with oral acetaminophen (1000 mg every 6 h) and oral ibuprofen (400 mg every 8 hours). Oral ondansetron 4 mg every 8 hours will be available on request in case of nausea or vomiting.

The primary outcome will be the cumulative iv morphine consumption at 24 h postoperatively. Secondary outcomes will include pain- and functional-related outcomes. Pain-related outcomes include cumulative morphine consumption at 2h and 48h postoperatively, rest and dynamic pain scores and rate of PONV at 2 h, 24 h and 48 h postoperatively. Early functional-related outcomes include range of motion, strength and walking distance at 24 h and 48 h postoperatively. Late functional-related outcomes include range of motion, strength, hop distance, agility test, Y balance test, Anterior Cruciate Ligament Return to Sport After Injury Scale (ACL-RSI) and International Knee Documentation Committee Scale (IKDC) at 4 and 8 months postoperatively.

Conditions

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Analgesia

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

QUADRUPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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TIBIAL group

All patients allocated to the TIBIAL group will receive an adductor canal block with 20ml of ropivacaine 0.75% and a selective tibial nerve block with 5 ml of ropivacaine 0.75% prior to surgery,

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Selective tibial nerve block

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

The selective tibial nerve block will be performed on the popliteal crease following sterilization of the area. The probe will be placed in a transverse position at the popliteal crease to visualize the popliteal artery and the tibial nerve in short axis. A 21-gauge 50mm insulated facet tip needle (SonoPlex® STIM, Pajunk, Geisingen, DE) will be inserted in-plane with the ultrasound bean from a medial to lateral direction. Once the needle tip is adjacent to the tibial nerve, 5 ml of ropivacaine 0.75% will be injected to achieve an adequate spread of local anaesthetics around the nerve.

IPACK group

All patients allocated to the IPACK group will receive an adductor canal block with 20ml of ropivacaine 0.75% and an IPACK with 20ml of ropivacaine 0.2% prior to surgery.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

IPACK

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

The IPACK will be performed on the popliteal crease following sterilization of the area. The probe will be placed in a transverse position proximal to the popliteal crease to visualize the popliteal artery in short axis. A 21-gauge 100 mm insulated facet tip needle (SonoPlex® STIM, Pajunk, Geisingen, DE) will be inserted in-plane with the ultrasound beam, in a lateral to medial direction, between the popliteal artery and the posterior capsule, where twenty mL of ropivacaine 0.2% will be injected under ultrasound guidance. The distribution of local anaesthetics will be observed above the posterior capsule.

Interventions

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Selective tibial nerve block

The selective tibial nerve block will be performed on the popliteal crease following sterilization of the area. The probe will be placed in a transverse position at the popliteal crease to visualize the popliteal artery and the tibial nerve in short axis. A 21-gauge 50mm insulated facet tip needle (SonoPlex® STIM, Pajunk, Geisingen, DE) will be inserted in-plane with the ultrasound bean from a medial to lateral direction. Once the needle tip is adjacent to the tibial nerve, 5 ml of ropivacaine 0.75% will be injected to achieve an adequate spread of local anaesthetics around the nerve.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

IPACK

The IPACK will be performed on the popliteal crease following sterilization of the area. The probe will be placed in a transverse position proximal to the popliteal crease to visualize the popliteal artery in short axis. A 21-gauge 100 mm insulated facet tip needle (SonoPlex® STIM, Pajunk, Geisingen, DE) will be inserted in-plane with the ultrasound beam, in a lateral to medial direction, between the popliteal artery and the posterior capsule, where twenty mL of ropivacaine 0.2% will be injected under ultrasound guidance. The distribution of local anaesthetics will be observed above the posterior capsule.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* ASA score I-III
* 18 years or older
* Scheduled for elective primary ACL reconstruction
* Signature of consent form

Exclusion Criteria

* Refusal or inability for informed consent
* Known allergies to ropivacaine, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, ketorolac, morphine, sufentanyl, ondansetron or dexamethason
* Secondary surgical revision
* Opioid treatment such as morphine, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, tramadol, methadone, fentanyl, buprenorphine or codeine
* Bleeding diathesis
* Neurological deficit
* Known renal insufficiency (eGFR \<45 ml/min)
* Known hepatic insufficiency (Child score B or C)
* Pregnancy or lactating
* Alcohol abuse
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Eric Albrecht

Prof. Dr. med. Eric Albrecht

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Eric Albrecht, M.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois

Locations

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University Hospital of Lausanne

Lausanne, , Switzerland

Site Status

Countries

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Switzerland

References

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Chuaychoosakoon C, Parinyakhup W, Wiwatboworn A, Purngpiputtrakul P, Wanasitchaiwat P, Boonriong T. Comparing post-operative pain between single bundle and double bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a retrospective study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2021 Sep 3;22(1):753. doi: 10.1186/s12891-021-04635-5.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 34479511 (View on PubMed)

Smith JH, Belk JW, Kraeutler MJ, Houck DA, Scillia AJ, McCarty EC. Adductor Canal Versus Femoral Nerve Block after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Systematic Review of Level I Randomized Controlled Trials Comparing Early Postoperative Pain, Opioid Requirements, and Quadriceps Strength. Arthroscopy. 2020 Jul;36(7):1973-1980. doi: 10.1016/j.arthro.2020.03.040. Epub 2020 Apr 18.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 32315764 (View on PubMed)

Jansen TK, Miller BE, Arretche N, Pellegrini JE. Will the addition of a sciatic nerve block to a femoral nerve block provide better pain control following anterior cruciate ligament repair surgery? AANA J. 2009 Jun;77(3):213-8.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 19645171 (View on PubMed)

Silverman ER, Vydyanathan A, Gritsenko K, Shaparin N, Singh N, Downie SA, Kosharskyy B. The Anatomic Relationship of the Tibial Nerve to the Common Peroneal Nerve in the Popliteal Fossa: Implications for Selective Tibial Nerve Block in Total Knee Arthroplasty. Pain Res Manag. 2017;2017:7250181. doi: 10.1155/2017/7250181. Epub 2017 Feb 2.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 28260964 (View on PubMed)

Stebler K, Martin R, Kirkham KR, Lambert J, De Sede A, Albrecht E. Adductor canal block versus local infiltration analgesia for postoperative pain after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a single centre randomised controlled triple-blinded trial. Br J Anaesth. 2019 Aug;123(2):e343-e349. doi: 10.1016/j.bja.2019.04.053. Epub 2019 May 24.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 31130273 (View on PubMed)

Martin R, Kirkham KR, Ngo THN, Gonvers E, Lambert J, Albrecht E. Combination of femoral triangle block and infiltration between the popliteal artery and the capsule of the posterior knee (iPACK) versus local infiltration analgesia for analgesia after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a randomized controlled triple-blinded trial. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2021 Sep;46(9):763-768. doi: 10.1136/rapm-2021-102631. Epub 2021 May 26.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 34039734 (View on PubMed)

van der Wal M, Lang SA, Yip RW. Transsartorial approach for saphenous nerve block. Can J Anaesth. 1993 Jun;40(6):542-6. doi: 10.1007/BF03009739.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 8403121 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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CER-VD 2021-02474

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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