ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the benefit and safety of continuous femoral nerve block in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From December 2008 to August 2009, 80 patients with total knee arthroplasty were randomly divided into two groups, 40 patients in each group. In group A the pain-control was dominanted by continuous femoral nerve block, there were 5 males adn 35 females with an average age of (65.0 +/- 4.2) years old; In group B the pump of vein odynolysis was used, there were 5 males and 35 females with an average age of (64.7 +/- 8.5) years old. The treatment of relieve pain continued for 3 days. The pain of visual analog scale (VAS), sleep condition, early-stage rehabilitation and adverse effects were recorded.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The VAS scores of group A was lower than that of group B at 2, 6, 24, 36, 48, 56, 72 h after operation (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01); The sleep condition and early-stage rehabilitation of group A were better than that of group B. The complications of group B occurrenced more than group A; The analgetica of group B were used more than that of group A.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The continuous femoral nerve block is an effective pain relieve method and is benefical to rehabilitation from total knee arthroplasty early.</p>