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Nerve Block for Knee Surgery Pain Control

Phase 2 & 3
Waitlist Available
Led By Bryan D Springer, MD
Research Sponsored by OrthoCarolina Research Institute, Inc.
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
Patients age 30-85 undergoing first-time primary unilateral total knee arthroplasty for osteoarthritis and remaining hospitalized for at least one night
Be older than 18 years old
Must not have
Patients with inflammatory arthritis
Patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty at an ambulatory surgery center, or being discharged home from the hospital on the same day as their procedure (planned)
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up every 6 hours for postoperative day 0-2, every 6 hours on postoperative day 4, and at 4-6 week visit

Summary

This trial will help determine if a nerve block in addition to a cocktail of pain medications can help control pain better for patients undergoing knee surgery.

Who is the study for?
This trial is for individuals aged 30-85 who are having their first total knee replacement due to osteoarthritis and will stay in the hospital overnight. It's not for those who have taken opioids before surgery, need a revision or bilateral knee replacement, have post-traumatic or inflammatory arthritis, previous surgeries on that knee, same-day discharge plans, contralateral knee replacements, or a history of substance abuse.
What is being tested?
The study is testing if adding an adductor canal block with ropivacaine (a numbing medication) to standard pain relief methods provides better pain control after knee replacement surgery than using saline (a placebo). Patients receive either the real drug or saline alongside regular pain management.
What are the potential side effects?
Ropivacaine can cause side effects like nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, dizziness, headaches and in rare cases nerve damage. Saline injections typically don't cause side effects but may include discomfort at the injection site.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below
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I am between 30-85 years old and having my first knee replacement due to arthritis, staying in the hospital overnight.

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:
Select...
I have inflammatory arthritis.
Select...
I am having knee replacement surgery and will go home the same day.
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I have had surgery that opened my knee joint before.
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I am having surgery to replace both of my knees.
Select...
I am having knee replacement surgery due to arthritis from an injury.
Select...
I am having a second surgery to replace my knee joint.
Select...
I have had knee replacement surgery on my other knee.
Select...
I have been taking opioids before my knee replacement surgery.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~every 6 hours for postoperative day 0-2, every 6 hours on postoperative day 4, and at 4-6 week visit
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and every 6 hours for postoperative day 0-2, every 6 hours on postoperative day 4, and at 4-6 week visit for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
Postoperative pain, as defined by patient-reported NPRS pain scores on a scale of 0-10 on Postoperative day 1
Secondary study objectives
Gait Assessment
Pain
Patient Satisfaction with Pain
+4 more

Trial Design

2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Placebo Group
Group I: Treatment Group (Ropivacaine)Experimental Treatment2 Interventions
The treatment group will consist of patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty who receive standardized 100 cc periarticularinjection into the lateral femoral periosteum, posterior capsule, medial periosteum, capsule and skin. Patients will then receive 10cc of ropivacaineinto their adductor canal.This will be administered by injecting into the adductor canal without dissecting down to the saphenous nerve and without ultrasound guidance.
Group II: Control Group (Saline)Placebo Group2 Interventions
The control group will consist of patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty who receive a standardized periarticular injection into the lateral femoral periosteum, posterior capsule, medial periosteum, capsule and skin. Patients randomized in this group will then receive 10cc of saline into their adductor canal. This will be administered by injecting into the adductor canal without dissecting down to the saphenous nerve and without ultrasound guidance.
Treatment
First Studied
Drug Approval Stage
How many patients have taken this drug
Total Knee Arthroplasty
2017
Completed Phase 4
~2040
Ropivacaine injection
2012
Completed Phase 4
~510

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

OrthoCarolina Research Institute, Inc.Lead Sponsor
36 Previous Clinical Trials
5,916 Total Patients Enrolled
Towson Orthopaedic AssociatesOTHER
1 Previous Clinical Trials
160 Total Patients Enrolled
Bryan D Springer, MDPrincipal InvestigatorOrthoCarolina Research Institute, Inc.
2 Previous Clinical Trials
320 Total Patients Enrolled

Media Library

Total Knee Arthroplasty Clinical Trial Eligibility Overview. Trial Name: NCT04513145 — Phase 2 & 3
Total Knee Arthroplasty Research Study Groups: Control Group (Saline), Treatment Group (Ropivacaine)
Total Knee Arthroplasty Clinical Trial 2023: Total Knee Arthroplasty Highlights & Side Effects. Trial Name: NCT04513145 — Phase 2 & 3
Total Knee Arthroplasty 2023 Treatment Timeline for Medical Study. Trial Name: NCT04513145 — Phase 2 & 3
~25 spots leftby Dec 2025