Trial Outcomes & Findings for Femoral Nerve Block Versus Adductor Canal Nerve Block for Peri-Operative Analgesia Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Reconstruction: Evaluation of Post-operative Pain and Strength (NCT NCT03033589)
NCT ID: NCT03033589
Last Updated: 2026-06-23
Results Overview
Norco 5-325 (hydrocodone with acetaminophen) oral tablet prescribed (1-2 tablets every 4-6 hours as needed for pain) converted to intravenous morphine equivalent dosing.
Recruitment status
COMPLETED
Study phase
NA
Target enrollment
78 participants
Primary outcome timeframe
Post-operative Day 0, Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
Results posted on
2026-06-23
Participant Flow
Eighty-six patients undergoing Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) reconstruction with Bone to Bone (BTB) autograft were assessed for eligibility during the time period. Seventy-eight patients were consented to participate in the study, randomized, and received the appropriate treatment block.
Participant milestones
| Measure |
Adductor Canal Nerve Block
One hour prior to procedure, subject to receive 20 mL of 0.5% ropivacaine injected into the sheath of the saphenous nerve at the adductor hiatus. Ultrasound guidance utilized for appropriate localization of the targeted nerve sheath for local infiltration. No nerve stimulators to be utilized during or after the procedure.
Marcaine 0.25 % Injectable Solution: For the adductor canal block, 20 mL of 0.25% marcaine will be injected with the use of ultrasound guidance into the adductor canal by the attending anesthesiologist on the case in the pre-op holding area.
|
Femoral Nerve Block
One hour prior to procedure, subject to receive 30 mL of 0.5% ropivacaine injected into the nerve sheath of the femoral nerve at the level of the femoral triangle. Ultrasound guidance utilized for appropriate localization of the targeted nerve sheath for local infiltration. No nerve stimulators to be utilized during or after the procedure.
Marcaine 0.25 % Injectable Solution: For the femoral nerve block, 30 mL of 0.25% marcaine will be injected with the use of ultrasound guidance around the femoral nerve sheath by the attending anesthesiologist on the case in the pre-op holding area.
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|---|---|---|
|
Overall Study
STARTED
|
40
|
38
|
|
Overall Study
COMPLETED
|
30
|
30
|
|
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
|
10
|
8
|
Reasons for withdrawal
Withdrawal data not reported
Baseline Characteristics
Eighteen participants enrolled did not complete the pain diary and were not included in the analysis.
Baseline characteristics by cohort
| Measure |
Adductor Canal Nerve Block
n=30 Participants
One hour prior to procedure, subject to receive 20 mL of 0.5% ropivacaine injected into the sheath of the saphenous nerve at the adductor hiatus. Ultrasound guidance utilized for appropriate localization of the targeted nerve sheath for local infiltration. No nerve stimulators to be utilized during or after the procedure.
Marcaine 0.25 % Injectable Solution: For the adductor canal block, 20 mL of 0.25% marcaine will be injected with the use of ultrasound guidance into the adductor canal by the attending anesthesiologist on the case in the pre-op holding area.
|
Femoral Nerve Block
n=30 Participants
One hour prior to procedure, subject to receive 30 mL of 0.5% ropivacaine injected into the nerve sheath of the femoral nerve at the level of the femoral triangle. Ultrasound guidance utilized for appropriate localization of the targeted nerve sheath for local infiltration. No nerve stimulators to be utilized during or after the procedure.
Marcaine 0.25 % Injectable Solution: For the femoral nerve block, 30 mL of 0.25% marcaine will be injected with the use of ultrasound guidance around the femoral nerve sheath by the attending anesthesiologist on the case in the pre-op holding area.
|
Total
n=60 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Age, Continuous
|
21.5 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.4 • n=30 Participants • Eighteen participants enrolled did not complete the pain diary and were not included in the analysis.
|
21.2 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.2 • n=30 Participants • Eighteen participants enrolled did not complete the pain diary and were not included in the analysis.
|
21.3 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.8 • n=60 Participants • Eighteen participants enrolled did not complete the pain diary and were not included in the analysis.
|
|
Sex: Female, Male
Female
|
15 Participants
n=30 Participants • Eighteen participants did not complete the pain diary and were not included in the analysis.
|
18 Participants
n=30 Participants • Eighteen participants did not complete the pain diary and were not included in the analysis.
|
33 Participants
n=60 Participants • Eighteen participants did not complete the pain diary and were not included in the analysis.
|
|
Sex: Female, Male
Male
|
15 Participants
n=30 Participants • Eighteen participants did not complete the pain diary and were not included in the analysis.
|
12 Participants
n=30 Participants • Eighteen participants did not complete the pain diary and were not included in the analysis.
|
27 Participants
n=60 Participants • Eighteen participants did not complete the pain diary and were not included in the analysis.
|
|
Race and Ethnicity Not Collected
|
—
|
—
|
0 Participants
Race and Ethnicity were not collected from any participant.
|
|
Region of Enrollment
United States
|
30 participants
n=30 Participants • Eighteen participants did not complete the pain diary and were not included in the analysis.
|
30 participants
n=30 Participants • Eighteen participants did not complete the pain diary and were not included in the analysis.
|
60 participants
n=60 Participants • Eighteen participants did not complete the pain diary and were not included in the analysis.
|
|
Body Mass Index
|
26.7 kg/m^2
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.9 • n=30 Participants • Eighteen participants did not complete the pain diary and were not included in the analysis.
|
26.9 kg/m^2
STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.2 • n=30 Participants • Eighteen participants did not complete the pain diary and were not included in the analysis.
|
26.8 kg/m^2
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.0 • n=60 Participants • Eighteen participants did not complete the pain diary and were not included in the analysis.
|
PRIMARY outcome
Timeframe: Post-operative Day 0, Day 1, Day 2, Day 3Population: Eighteen participants enrolled in the study did not complete the pain diary and were not included in the analysis.
The VAS is a validated self-reported instrument for measuring pain intensity. Possible scores range from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worse possible pain).
Outcome measures
| Measure |
Adductor Canal Nerve Block
n=30 Participants
One hour prior to procedure, subject to receive 20 mL of 0.5% ropivacaine injected into the sheath of the saphenous nerve at the adductor hiatus. Ultrasound guidance utilized for appropriate localization of the targeted nerve sheath for local infiltration. No nerve stimulators to be utilized during or after the procedure.
Marcaine 0.25 % Injectable Solution: For the adductor canal block, 20 mL of 0.25% marcaine will be injected with the use of ultrasound guidance into the adductor canal by the attending anesthesiologist on the case in the pre-op holding area.
|
Femoral Nerve Block
n=30 Participants
One hour prior to procedure, subject to receive 30 mL of 0.5% ropivacaine injected into the nerve sheath of the femoral nerve at the level of the femoral triangle. Ultrasound guidance utilized for appropriate localization of the targeted nerve sheath for local infiltration. No nerve stimulators to be utilized during or after the procedure.
Marcaine 0.25 % Injectable Solution: For the femoral nerve block, 30 mL of 0.25% marcaine will be injected with the use of ultrasound guidance around the femoral nerve sheath by the attending anesthesiologist on the case in the pre-op holding area.
|
|---|---|---|
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Average Pain Level Per Arm on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at Post-operative (Day 0), Day 1, Day 2, Day 3.
Day 0
|
5.7 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.1
|
5.7 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.8
|
|
Average Pain Level Per Arm on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at Post-operative (Day 0), Day 1, Day 2, Day 3.
Day 1
|
5.5 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.1
|
5.7 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.1
|
|
Average Pain Level Per Arm on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at Post-operative (Day 0), Day 1, Day 2, Day 3.
Day 2
|
4.9 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.1
|
4.8 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.0
|
|
Average Pain Level Per Arm on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at Post-operative (Day 0), Day 1, Day 2, Day 3.
Day 3
|
4.1 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.1
|
4.5 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.2
|
PRIMARY outcome
Timeframe: Post-operative Day 0, Day 1, Day 2, Day 3Population: Eighteen participants enrolled did not complete the pain diary and were not included in the analysis.
Norco 5-325 (hydrocodone with acetaminophen) oral tablet prescribed (1-2 tablets every 4-6 hours as needed for pain) converted to intravenous morphine equivalent dosing.
Outcome measures
| Measure |
Adductor Canal Nerve Block
n=30 Participants
One hour prior to procedure, subject to receive 20 mL of 0.5% ropivacaine injected into the sheath of the saphenous nerve at the adductor hiatus. Ultrasound guidance utilized for appropriate localization of the targeted nerve sheath for local infiltration. No nerve stimulators to be utilized during or after the procedure.
Marcaine 0.25 % Injectable Solution: For the adductor canal block, 20 mL of 0.25% marcaine will be injected with the use of ultrasound guidance into the adductor canal by the attending anesthesiologist on the case in the pre-op holding area.
|
Femoral Nerve Block
n=30 Participants
One hour prior to procedure, subject to receive 30 mL of 0.5% ropivacaine injected into the nerve sheath of the femoral nerve at the level of the femoral triangle. Ultrasound guidance utilized for appropriate localization of the targeted nerve sheath for local infiltration. No nerve stimulators to be utilized during or after the procedure.
Marcaine 0.25 % Injectable Solution: For the femoral nerve block, 30 mL of 0.25% marcaine will be injected with the use of ultrasound guidance around the femoral nerve sheath by the attending anesthesiologist on the case in the pre-op holding area.
|
|---|---|---|
|
Average Narcotic Consumption Per Arm in Morphine Equivalents at Post-operative (Day 0), Day 1, Day 2, Day 3.
Day 2
|
3.6 milligrams of morphine equivalent
Standard Deviation 1.7
|
3.4 milligrams of morphine equivalent
Standard Deviation 1.2
|
|
Average Narcotic Consumption Per Arm in Morphine Equivalents at Post-operative (Day 0), Day 1, Day 2, Day 3.
Day 3
|
3.6 milligrams of morphine equivalent
Standard Deviation 1.8
|
3.3 milligrams of morphine equivalent
Standard Deviation 1.2
|
|
Average Narcotic Consumption Per Arm in Morphine Equivalents at Post-operative (Day 0), Day 1, Day 2, Day 3.
Day 0
|
4.5 milligrams of morphine equivalent
Standard Deviation 1.6
|
3.8 milligrams of morphine equivalent
Standard Deviation 1.0
|
|
Average Narcotic Consumption Per Arm in Morphine Equivalents at Post-operative (Day 0), Day 1, Day 2, Day 3.
Day 1
|
3.8 milligrams of morphine equivalent
Standard Deviation 1.8
|
3.5 milligrams of morphine equivalent
Standard Deviation 1.2
|
Adverse Events
Adductor Canal Nerve Block
Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths
Femoral Nerve Block
Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths
Serious adverse events
Adverse event data not reported
Other adverse events
Adverse event data not reported
Additional Information
Results disclosure agreements
- Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
- Publication restrictions are in place