1. Overview of included studies.

Study Blindinga	Population: Enrolled/analysed/followed up to at least 3 months (no. per group)	Intervention(s)	Control	Postoperative outcomes
Kadic 2009 Single	58/53/48 (27/26)	CFNB	No block	Knee function after 3 months (knee flexion, Knee Society score and WOMAC pain, stiffness and function subscale)
Nader 2012 Unblinded	62/62/60 (31/31)	CFNB (Epidural infusion until morning of POD 1)	No block (epidural infusion until morning of POD 1)	Knee flexion at 1, 6 and 12 months Functional outcome on POD 1, POD 2, POD 3, 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months
Singelyn 1998 Unblinded	45/45/45 (15/15/15)	CFNB Epidural analgesia	No block	Knee flexion at 6 weeks and 3 months
Tammachote 2013 Single	59/57/57 (28/29)	Periarticular infiltration	Intrathecal morphine	ROM at 2, 6 and 12 weeks Modified Thai version of the WOMAC score (at 6 and 12 weeks)
Wu 2014 Unblinded	79/60/60 (30/30)	CFNB	No block	Knee Society Score (difference with preoperative value) at discharge, at 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months
Zhang 2011 Double	96/80/80 (26/27/27)	Periarticular infiltration Periarticular infiltration then ropivacaine/ketorolac infusion	Saline intra‐articular infusion	Maximum knee flexion after 7 days (early recovery) and 90 days (late recovery)

CFNB: continuous femoral nerve block; POD: postoperative day; RCT: randomized controlled trial; ROM: range of motion; WOMAC: Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index.

^aUnblinded: neither participant, nor personnel, nor assessor of long‐term function were blinded; single: only assessor of long‐term function was blinded; double: participant and personnel were blinded, but assessor of long‐term function was not.