Capsular block versus IPACK block: comparison in pain management in patients with total knee replacement

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of capsular block versus IPACK block in pain management in patients treated with total knee replacement. Method: It is an observational, analytical, prospective cohort study, carried out in a period of 10 months, with a sample of 20 patients with a diagnosis of severe knee osteoarthritis, corroborated by imaging studies. After completing the total knee replacement, 10 patients received the IPACK block guided under ultrasound with levobupivacaine, while the other 10 patients received the blockade in the posterior knee capsule with the Ranawat mixture after cementation. of the prosthesis during the surgical act. In a second stage, 24 and 48 hours after surgery, the evaluation instrument is applied to determine the functionality of the knee by means of the degrees of flexion and the level of analgesia through the analogous visual scale of pain. Results: There were no significant differences between both anesthetic techniques, however the degrees of flexion with capsular blockade were higher with respect to IPACK block as well as with the visual analog pain scale. Conclusion: The two blocks turn out to be efficient for the management of postoperative pain in patients with knee joint replacement.