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Continuous Versus Single Injection Adductor Canal Blocks for Outpatient Total Knee Arthroplasty

A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial Assessing Pain and Opioid Outcomes Among Patients Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty Receiving 5-Day Outpatient Adductor Canal Continuous Versus Single Injection Blocks

Who can join

Ages 18 and older · All sexes

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Adult participants of at least 18 years of age
2. Undergoing a primary, unilateral, total knee arthroplasty
3. Planned single-injection adductor canal nerve block
4. Weight \> 50 kg (to minimize the risk of local anesthetic toxicity)

Exclusion Criteria:

1. chronic opioid or tramadol use: daily oxycodone equivalents \> 20 mg for \> 4 weeks
2. neuro-muscular deficit of the surgical limb
3. moderate pain (NRS \> 3) in an anatomic location other than the surgical site
4. planned hospital admission following surgery
5. history of opioid misuse
6. those who lack capacity to complete informed consent
7. inability to contact the investigators during the treatment period, and vice versa (e.g., lack of telephone access)
8. incarceration
9. pregnancy
10. allergy to amide local anesthetics

About the study

This is a single-center pilot study to determine if an adductor canal continuous nerve block is superior to single injection nerve block following total knee arthroplasty. Investigators will randomize participants to either continuous nerve block or single injection nerve block for the adductor canal preoperatively. They will assess differences in pain (measured in numeric rating scale), opioid consumption, and physical therapy milestones from postoperative day 0 to 7.

What is being tested

• continuous peripheral nerve block with OnQ pump (device)
• single injection nerve block (drug)

Sponsor: University of California, San Diego · Participants: 40 · Started: Jun 1, 2025

Contact the study team

• Rodney A Gabriel, MD · Phone: 858-663-7747

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT06784882

Locations in the U.S.

Conditions

• Pain After Surgery

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.