Comparing femoral triangle and adductor canal nerve blocks for early quadriceps function after knee replacement

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This single-center, randomized, parallel-group study will assign 136 adults undergoing primary unilateral total knee arthroplasty to receive either an ultrasound-guided femoral triangle block (FTB) or an adductor canal block (ACB) as part of standardized multimodal analgesia. All participants will also receive a popliteal plexus block to standardize posterior knee analgesia and perioperative pain management. The primary outcome is a composite binary measure of quadriceps functional impairment at 6 hours after block completion, defined as inability to perform a structured straight leg raise or normalized isometric quadriceps strength <50% of the preoperative baseline. Secondary outcomes include the same functional measure at 24 hours, postoperative pain intensity, rescue analgesic consumption, early mobilization and rehabilitation milestones, active knee range of motion and time to achieve 120 degrees of active knee flexion, and ultrasound-assessed local anesthetic spread.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Adult patients (≥ 20 years of age) are scheduled to undergo primary unilateral TKA.
2. American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-III.
3. Ability to ambulate independently prior to surgery.
4. Ability to understand the study procedures and provide written informed consent.
5. Planned perioperative anesthesia management including regional anesthesia as part of standard clinical care.
6. Ability to extend the knee below 30 degrees preoperatively (no knee extension contracture)

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Known allergy or contraindication to local anesthetic agents used in this study.
2. Pre-existing neurological or neuromuscular disorders affect lower limb strength or motor control.
3. Severe cognitive impairment or psychiatric conditions interfere with study participation or assessment.
4. History of revision knee arthroplasty on the operative side.
5. Severe preoperative quadriceps weakness that precludes reliable baseline strength assessment.
6. Any condition deemed by the investigator to make participation inappropriate.

Where it's running

• Department of Anesthesiology, Daiyukai General Hospital
  Ichinomiya, Aichi-ken, Japan Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Norihiro Sakai, MD, PhD — Department of Anesthesiology, Daiyukai General Hospital
• Study coordinator: Norihiro Sakai, MD, PhD
• Email: dykmasui@gmail.com
• Phone: +81-586-72-1211

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.