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News
When it comes to managing pain after ACL reconstruction, two regional anesthesia techniques go head-to-head — and neither wins. A Swiss randomized trial found that IPACK and selective tibial nerve block provided comparable postoperative analgesia, functional recovery, and safety outcomes, giving clinicians flexibility to choose based on their own practice preferences.
Choosing between two popular regional anesthesia approaches for post-ACL surgery pain? Either one will do the job. A Swiss randomized controlled trial compared infiltration between the popliteal artery and the capsule of the knee (IPACK) with a selective tibial nerve block in 76 adults undergoing ACL reconstruction — and found no meaningful difference in pain control or recovery outcomes.
Both techniques were performed under ultrasound guidance alongside a femoral triangle block, with all patients also receiving scheduled paracetamol, ibuprofen, and patient-controlled IV morphine for postoperative pain management.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: With both techniques offering equivalent analgesia and safety, clinicians now have validated flexibility to select the approach that best fits their clinical setting — whether that's IPACK or a selective tibial nerve block.
