Regional Analgesia in Sickle Cell Knee Pain: A case report using the interspace between the popliteal artery and capsule of the knee (iPACK) and genicular nerve block techniques

While nerve blocks have proven effective in managing pre- and postoperative knee pain, their application in managing sickle cell vaso-occlusive crises is not widely explored. This case presents a novel application of a motor-sparing combination of knee nerve blocks including the iPACK, genicular blocks, and a block to the vastus intermedius to treat debilitating knee pain in a 21-year-old male who was opioid-refractory. This intervention provided improved analgesia leading to a notable improvement in the patient’s functional ability. This case highlights the potential of this specific regional anesthetic technique as an effective and safe alternative to systemic opioid therapy for regional sickle cell-related pain.