Ultrasound Guided Repositioning of a New Suture-Method Catheter for Adductor Canal Block

The study objective is to investigate whether it is possible to reposition a displaced suture-method catheter using ultrasound.

A peripheral nerve catheter will be inserted on each side under US guidance. An investigator will insert one catheter in the short-axis plane of the adductor canal using an in plane technique: The needle is inserted through the vastus medialis into the adductor canal and exits superficial to the femoral artery through the sartorius muscle.

The second catheter is inserted from proximal to distal direction in the long-axis plane using a combination of in-plane and out-of-plane techniques.

10mL of isotonic saline is used for hydro-dissection for both catheter insertions to facilitate placement. Both catheters are injected with 15 mL LA with an immediate assessment of the spread being within or outside the adductor canal.

Loss of cold sensation in the cutaneous saphenous nerve innervation area will be evaluated 15 minutes after injection by another investigator, who is blinded to allocation and randomization.

Following return of normal sensory function the catheter is then intentionally displaced at least 2 cm outside the adductor canal in the direction of the entry or exit site according to randomization. The distance from the LA delivery orifice of the catheter to the adductor canal is noted. Adequate displacement requires that injection of isotonic saline does not result in spread within the adductor canal.

A third investigator will assess distance from the LA delivery orifice of the catheter to the adductor canal and subsequently reposition the catheter using saline to pinpoint location of the delivery orifice. Once the catheter is repositioned LA is injected. The US scan during LA injection is performed with a fourth investigator present to evaluate for satisfactory spread within the adductor canal. The 2 investigators will not communicate regarding the assessment of spread within the adductor canal.

Evaluation of cold sensation on the medial part of the lower leg is performed 15 minutes after 15mL LA (lidocaine 10 mg/mL) injection by investigator 2. The catheters are then removed and the study is completed.

Distance from catheter delivery orifices to the adductor canal is defined as following:

Distance from the LA delivery orifice to the fascia surrounding the adductor canal is noted in the short axis group. The distance from the LA delivery orifice to the penetration of the aponeurosis lying just below the sartorius muscle is noted in the long axis group. Both represent anatomical reference points for the adductor canal.

Satisfactory spread within the adductor canal is defined as following:

The LA injection spreads deeper along the lateral side of the femoral artery, observed in the two-dimensional plane while producing minimal displacement of the roof and the overlying sartorius muscle.

The injection may spread occasionally superficially over the femoral artery within the canal and will then force the artery deeper. If the injection spreads more medially and superficially over the saphenous nerve and femoral artery in an anterolateral to posteromedial direction, initially resembling the injections within the adductor canal but separates the sartorius muscle from the femoral artery by lifting the sartorius muscle medially off the hyperechoic roof of the adductor canal it is considered not to spread within the adductor canal.13

Successful primary placement and subsequent repositioning is defined as the combination of satisfactory spread within the adductor canal (assessed using SAX visualization of the adductor canal for both catheters) and loss of cold sensation.

Inclusion criteria

• Male or female ≥18 years of age.
• ASA classification ≤ II.
• Written informed consent obtained from subject and ability for subject to comply with the requirements of the study.

Exclusion criteria

• Previous surgery or ongoing pain or other disability of investigated region resulting in sensory or neurologic deficits in the investigated region.
• Allergy to LA.
• Pregnancy (all female participants will be tested for urine hCG), breastfeeding, or unwilling to practice birth control during participation in the study.