Adductor Canal (saphenous nerve)

Last updated: February 9, 2026

For

TKA

Needle

21G 100mm

Target

Locate femur. Scan to find femoral artery and vein in mid-thigh. If too proximal, there is risk of motor component involvement of the femoral nerve.

Tricks

Nerve is usually adjacent (lateral aspect) of artery and vein. Look for sartorious muscle above.

Note

There is also technically a distal femoral triangle block. This is proximal to the adductor canal and has slightly more motor impairment than an adductor canal block.