Factors Affecting the Speed of Recovery After ACL Reconstruction

Study Summary

The purpose of this study is to find out how postoperative pain affects recovery after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair. Complete recovery after ACL repair involves healing of tissues at the surgical site, but also recovery of strength of the muscles that control movements at the knee. Some pain is normally experienced after ACL repair; the severity is variable from one individual to another. Pain is usually controlled by intravenous and oral (by mouth) pain medicines. It is also frequently controlled by numbing nerves that supply sensation to the knee joint and surrounding tissues. This procedure is called a nerve block. The investigators want to determine if standard methods of pain control after surgery affect future pain control, and the ability to exercise and recover muscle strength after surgery. The investigators are also interested in determining what other factors, such as age, gender, anxiety, or coping skills might be predictive of pain severity and speed of recovery. As part of the study, the investigators will record subject's ratings of pain severity, use of painkiller medicines, and muscle bulk measured by standardized tests, at various time intervals in the first 6 months after surgery. The investigators will also ask them to complete two questionnaires,one that enquires about subject's responses to pain in the past (catastrophizing test), and one that measures anxiety they might have about surgery or pain on the day of surgery. The investigators will be studying approximately 180 people who are having ACL repair at University of Washington. Subjects may be involved who are having multiple ligaments repaired including the anterior cruciate ligament

Primary Outcome

self- reported verbal pain score where 0= no pain and 10 = worst imaginable

Interventions

• PROCEDURE Femoral Nerve Block
• PROCEDURE Adductor Nerve Block
• OTHER No Block