Defining Normal Postoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging After Total Knee Arthroplasty

• In 2016, 3 sentinel cases of presumed local anesthetic-induced myotoxicity were reported after TKA with associated continuous adductor canal block (CACB) analgesia. The diagnosis was made based on its consistency with animal and human descriptions of local anesthetic myotoxicity, including: a) exposure to local anesthetic, b) delayed symptom onset after a period of normal recovery, c) rapid development of profound muscle flaccidity, and d) complete to partial recovery of motor function after weeks to months. MRIs obtained in these patients showed diffuse intra- and inter-muscular edema (inflammation) of the ipsilateral thigh, which was believed to support the presumptive diagnosis. However, because baseline MRI appearance of upper leg muscles has never been described for this clinical scenario, it is possible that the MRI scans represented "normal, baseline" appearance.
• This case series intended to prospectively describe postoperative MRI appearance in a cohort of asymptomatic volunteer patients that underwent uncomplicated TKA/CACB. In addition, because obtaining biomarkers of muscle injury might also be a reasonable diagnostic step, we sought to measure preoperative and postoperative creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and aldolase levels.
• MRI scans were read by 5 board-certified musculoskeletal radiologists masked to the study's purpose. Grading was done using a standard grid that facilitated systematic evaluation of various regions within the upper leg. At least 3 of 5 radiologists were required to declare edema as present within a given region of the leg.
• Only those volunteer patients that presented a normal postoperative course, i.e., had no unexpected leg muscle weakness, were entered into the study. As such, the MRI and muscle enzyme analysis results had no impact on the volunteer patients' clinical outcome or management. This was a prospective, observational/descriptive case series. There was no control group and we did not intend to investigate issues of cause-and-effect.

Inclusion criteria

• Scheduled for unilateral primary TKA with CACB
• TKA and early recovery was uncomplicated (no evidence of unexpected leg weakness)

Exclusion criteria

• Contraindication to spinal anesthesia or adductor canal-based analgesia
• History of muscle wasting or related disease
• History of autoimmune disorders that may affect muscles
• History of neurologic condition affecting the lower extremities
• Contraindications to MRI