Ultrasound-Guided Genicular Nerve Blocks for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Surgery in an Outpatient Setting: A Case Series

Arthroscopic knee anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is commonly performed as an outpatient surgery, where adequate pain control and early ambulation play key roles in recovery and discharge. Peripheral nerve blocks aid in this purpose. Blockade of the genicular nerves, the articular branches of the knee, has recently become popular for knee surgery. We report on four patients who underwent ACL reconstruction with ultrasound-guided genicular nerve blocks (GNBs) under general anesthesia. The blocks were reliably performed without any complications, and the patients experienced good pain control, reduced opioid intake, and timely discharge following the surgery. These findings necessitate future investigations into the use of GNBs in ACL reconstruction.