Comparison of Continuous Epidural Analgesia and Continuous Femoral Analgesia on Postoperative Pain and Knee Rehabilitation after Total Knee Arthroplasty

This study assessed the efficacy of postoperative analgesia and rehabilitation scores of continuous epidural analgesia or continuous femoral analgesia after total knee arthroplasty. Thirty patients received epidural analgesia (Group E), whereas 30 patients received continuous femoral analgesia (Group F). Pain and rehabilitation scores, total bupivacaine consumption and rescue analgesic consumption were compared. Pain scores were similar between the two groups. Total bupivacaine consumption was significantly higher in Group F. One patient in Group E and 13 patients in Group F required for supplemental analgesics (p<0.05).Maximum knee flexion degrees were not different between the two groups. In this study, an effective pain control was obtained with both continuous epidural analgesia and continuous femoral analgesia after total knee arthroplasty.