Knee surgeries are frequently performed operations that can lead to intense pain after the procedure (1). Early mobilization following knee surgery is associated with improved functional outcomes and a reduction in postoperative complications. As a result, achieving effective pain relief while preserving motor function is a primary goal in postoperative care for knee procedures (2).
A variety of strategies are employed for managing postoperative pain, including systemic opioid administration, epidural anesthesia, peripheral nerve blocks, and local infiltration of anesthetics (3).
However, systemic opioids are linked to several undesirable side effects such as nausea, vomiting, itching, sedation, and respiratory depression, which may hinder rehabilitation.
Similarly, epidural analgesia often results in complications like hypotension, urinary retention, and pruritus. The use of long-acting intrathecal opioids has also been associated with adverse events including bilateral motor blockade, tremors, and hypotension. Due to these issues, the reliance on systemic and intrathecal methods for postoperative pain control has been declining (4).
The adductor canal block (ACB), which targets the Hunter's canal, anesthetizes the saphenous and vastus medialis nerves, along with partial coverage of other sensory nerves like the femoral nerve, medial cutaneous nerve, and branches of the obturator nerve as they traverse the distal canal (5). ACB is largely considered a sensory block, affecting only the motor nerve to the vastus medialis, making it advantageous in preserving quadriceps strength during recovery (6, 7). Bupivacaine, a widely used long-acting amide local anesthetic, is frequently employed in peripheral nerve blocks such as the ACB due to its favorable pharmacokinetics.
Nonetheless, its analgesic duration may be insufficient for managing postoperative pain in surgeries with high nociceptive intensity (8). To extend its efficacy and enhance analgesic quality, several adjunctive agents have been explored, including opioids and α2-adrenergic agonists (9).
Morphine, a traditional opioid analgesic, acts on μ-opioid receptors to prolong analgesia and reduce local anesthetic requirements. Despite its effectiveness, its use is limited by opioid-related adverse effects like nausea, vomiting, pruritus, and respiratory depression. Furthermore, some studies report that morphine may not significantly improve postoperative pain control or functional recovery after knee surgery (10-12).
Dexmedetomidine, a highly selective α2-adrenergic receptor agonist, has been increasingly studied as an adjuvant in peripheral nerve blocks. When administered
perineurally, it has demonstrated potential to accelerate onset, prolong analgesia, reduce postoperative pain intensity, and minimize systemic opioid use, all while producing fewer systemic side effects (13). Its peripheral analgesic properties are thought to result from direct binding to α2-receptors at the nerve site (14).
Currently, there is limited research directly comparing the efficacy of morphine versus dexmedetomidine as adjuvants to bupivacaine in ultrasound-guided ACB for postoperative analgesia following knee surgeries.
