Regional anaesthesia: adductor canal block: practice question

A Anaesthesia question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Anaesthesia · Regional anaesthesia: adductor canal block

Sample item

A patient after total knee replacement receives an adductor canal block. Which nerve is mainly anaesthetised, with preserved quadriceps strength?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Saphenous nerve

The adductor canal contains the saphenous nerve and the nerve to vastus medialis, and the motor supply to the quadriceps is mostly proximal, so strength is preserved better than with a femoral block.

Option by option

  • A. Saphenous nerve (correct)

    Correct. The saphenous nerve is the main sensory target.

  • B. Superior gluteal nerve

    The superior gluteal nerve is in the buttock.

  • C. Sciatic nerve

    The sciatic nerve lies posteriorly.

  • D. Obturator nerve

    The obturator nerve is not in the canal.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Anaesthesia question

What is the answer to this Anaesthesia question?

The best answer is A, Saphenous nerve. The adductor canal contains the saphenous nerve and the nerve to vastus medialis, and the motor supply to the quadriceps is mostly proximal, so strength is preserved better than with a femoral block.

Why is "Superior gluteal nerve" not the answer?

The superior gluteal nerve is in the buttock.

Why is "Sciatic nerve" not the answer?

The sciatic nerve lies posteriorly.

Why is "Obturator nerve" not the answer?

The obturator nerve is not in the canal.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Regional anaesthesia: adductor canal block in Anaesthesia. The correct option holds because: Correct. The saphenous nerve is the main sensory target.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Regional anaesthesia: adductor canal block?

Make a table of each agent, its key advantage and its main side effect. Then use the flashcards and the other Anaesthesia questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.