Abstract:Objective To compare the analgesic efficacy of genicular nerve block (GNB) and local infiltration analgesia (LIA) after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), and to evaluate their impact on postoperative recovery.Methods A total of 82 patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) who underwent TKA at the Changzhou Medical District of the 904th Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force between February 2021 and October 2024 were enrolled and randomly assigned to either the GNB group or the LIA group, with 41 patients in each. Postoperative evaluation indicators included visual analogue scale (VAS) scores at rest and during movement at 4, 8, 12, and 24 hours after surgery; active and passive knee flexion angles at 24 and 48 hours postoperatively; lower limb muscle strength preoperatively and at 24h, 48h, and discharge postoperatively; rehabilitation parameters such as time to first ambulation and length of hospital stay; levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) on postoperative day 1; and Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) knee scores at 1 month postoperatively, and recorded adverse reactions.Results Comparison of resting VAS scores at 4, 8, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively between the GNB group and the LIA group, analyzed by repeated-measures ANOVA, showed: (1)There was no statistically significant difference in resting VAS scores at different time points (P > 0.05). (2)There was a statistically significant difference in resting VAS scores between the GNB group and the LIA group (P < 0.05). (3)There was a statistically significant difference in the trend of change in resting VAS scores between the two groups (P < 0.05). Comparison of movement VAS scores at 4, 8, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively between the GNB group and the LIA group, analyzed by repeated-measures ANOVA, showed: (1)There was a statistically significant difference in movement VAS scores at different time points (P < 0.05). (2)There was a statistically significant difference in movement VAS scores between the GNB group and the LIA group (P < 0.05), with the GNB group having lower VAS scores, indicating a relatively better analgesic effect. (3)There was no statistically significant difference in the trend of change in movement VAS scores between the two groups (P > 0.05). The active and passive knee flexion angles at 24 and 48 hours postoperatively in the GNB group were greater than those in the LIA group (P <0.05). The time to earliest ambulation in the GNB group was earlier than that in the LIA group, and the postoperative hospital stay was shorter than that in the LIA group (P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in CRP and IL-6 levels on postoperative day 1 between the two groups (P > 0.05). Comparison of quadriceps, tibialis anterior, and triceps surae muscle strength scores on preoperative day 1, and at 24 hours, 48 hours postoperatively, and before discharge between the GNB group and the LIA group, analyzed by repeated-measures ANOVA, showed: (1)here were statistically significant differences in quadriceps, tibialis anterior, and triceps surae muscle strength scores at different time points (P < 0.05). (2)There were statistically significant differences in quadriceps, tibialis anterior, and triceps surae muscle strength scores between the GNB group and the LIA group (P < 0.05). At 24 hours, 48 hours postoperatively, and before discharge, the quadriceps, tibialis anterior, and triceps surae muscle strength scores in the GNB group were higher. (3)There were statistically significant differences in the trends of change in quadriceps, tibialis anterior, and triceps surae muscle strength scores between the GNB group and the LIA group (P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in HSS scores at 1 month postoperatively between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the overall incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups (P > 0.05).Conclusion GNB provides superior early postoperative analgesia compared to LIA, promotes better recovery of joint range of motion and muscle strength, facilitates earlier ambulation, and is beneficial for accelerating early postoperative rehabilitation. No significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of long-term functional recovery or safety.