Primary Outcome Measures:
- pain relief; measured by VAS at rest and on activity [ Time Frame: before surgery, before discharge from PACU and on evenings of days 1, 2, 7, 60, 90 ]
- pain relief; measured by WOMAC [ Time Frame: before surgery and at days 7, 60, 90 ]
- pain relief; evaluated from standard datasheet [ Time Frame: over 48-hour period ]
Secondary Outcome Measures:
- knee range of bending [ Time Frame: measured before surgery, and at days 7, 60, 90 ]
- thigh circumference 20 cm above the knee [ Time Frame: measured before surgery and at days 7, 60, 90 ]
- neurological exam of femorocutaneous, femoral and obturator nerves [ Time Frame: evaluated once spinal anesthesia has worn off, post-surgery, before anesthesia ]
- level of activity; measured using questionnaire [ Time Frame: at 7-10 days and at 2 and 3 months ]
- need for rescue analgesia [ Time Frame: in recovery room and at home ]
- need for second bolus or crossing over between groups
60 patients being treated for ACL repair or knee arthroplasties under regional anesthesia will be randomized to three groups: Fascia Iliaca Block (FIB), Femoral Block (FB) with stimulating catheter or FB without stimulating catheter. A catheter will be placed according to each technique, before the surgery. A bolus of local anesthetic will be given pre-surgery and at the end of the operation, in all groups. A continuous infusion will be started for 48 hours. All patients receive a standard analgesia cocktail and rescue medication.
Pain and level of activity, as well as side effects, will be evaluated.