Effect of Adding Vastus Medialis Nerve Block to Adductor Canal Block After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Overview

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is frequently associated with moderate to severe postoperative pain, which can delay mobilization and rehabilitation. The adductor canal block (ACB) is widely used for postoperative pain management because it provides effective analgesia while preserving quadriceps muscle strength. However, pain originating from the medial aspect of the knee may not be adequately controlled with ACB alone because the nerve to the vastus medialis may not be consistently anesthetized. This prospective randomized controlled trial evaluates whether adding a vastus medialis nerve block (VMNB) to a standard adductor canal block improves postoperative pain control in patients undergoing elective arthroscopic ACL reconstruction. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either ACB alone or ACB combined with VMNB before surgery, while all patients receive the same standardized general anesthesia, surgical technique, and postoperative analgesic regimen. The primary outcome is postoperative pain intensity measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at 1, 6, 12, and 24 hours after surgery. Secondary outcomes include postoperative opioid consumption, time to first mobilization, length of hospital stay, and block-related complications. The results of this study may help determine whether the addition of a vastus medialis nerve block provides clinically meaningful benefits and may contribute to improving postoperative pain management following ACL reconstruction.

Conditions