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Local Anesthetic

Steroid-Enhanced Nerve Block vs Exparel for Knee Surgery Pain Management (Yale SEVEN Trial)

Phase 2
Recruiting
Led By Jinlei Li, MD PhD
Research Sponsored by Yale University
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
American Society of Anesthesiologists status I, II and III, elective, primary, bilateral TKA planned for spinal anesthesia with plain 0.5% bupivacaine.
Be older than 18 years old
Must not have
Patients on any amounts of opioids within one month of the surgery date, any substance abuse such as regular marijuana user (more frequent than once per month)
Coagulopathy
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up 6 weeks and 3 months
Awards & highlights
No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial is testing two different mixes of pain relief drugs to see which works better for patients having both knees replaced. The treatments aim to reduce inflammation and numb the surgical area, with one mix using a long-lasting painkiller and the other using steroids.

Who is the study for?
This trial is for adults who are scheduled for elective, primary, bilateral knee replacement surgery and can receive spinal anesthesia with bupivacaine. They should not be pregnant, have coagulopathy or severe liver/renal issues, use opioids recently, or have certain conditions like uncontrolled diabetes.
What is being tested?
The study compares two pain control methods after knee surgery: one combines dexamethasone and methylprednisolone with bupivacaine (B-DEX-MPA), while the other uses liposomal bupivacaine with plain bupivacaine (B-LB). It aims to see which provides better pain relief and recovery quality.
What are the potential side effects?
Possible side effects include allergic reactions to the medications used in the nerve blocks, increased blood sugar levels from steroids like dexamethasone and methylprednisolone, potential infection at injection site, and general discomfort from nerve block procedure.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below
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I am scheduled for knee replacement surgery under spinal anesthesia.

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:
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I have not used opioids or regularly used marijuana in the month before my surgery.
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I have a blood clotting disorder.
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I have a history of stomach or intestinal issues like ulcers or diverticulitis.
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I have a weakened immune system due to a condition like HIV or long-term steroid use.
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My kidney function is severely impaired.
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I have diabetes that requires insulin or is not well-controlled.
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I do not have an infection at the nerve block site or in my body.
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I have severe nerve pain or damage.
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I am allergic to or cannot use certain pain relievers and anesthetics.
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I weigh less than 60 kg.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~6 weeks and 3 months
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and 6 weeks and 3 months for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
Change in Postoperative Knee Pain Score
Postoperative opioid consumption
Secondary study objectives
Average Postoperative Knee Pain Score
Change in Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Global-10
Change in Quality of Recovery 40 questionnaire
+10 more

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group
All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: B-LB in right knee and B-DEX-MPA in left kneeExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
Participants in this arm will receive B-LB in their right knee and B-DEX-MPA in their left knee. Nerve block with (B-LB): A medication mixture of 40 ml (20 ml LB and 20 ml 0.25% plain bupivacaine) will be prepared, of which 20 ml will be used in Adductor canal block, 10 ml will be used in iPACK block and 5 ml each will be used in medial upper and lateral upper genicular nerve block, respectively. Nerve block with (B-DEX-MPA): A medication mixture of 40 ml (40 ml 0.25% plain bupivacaine, 10 mg DEX and 80 mg MPA) will be prepared, of which 20 ml will be used in Adductor canal block, 10 ml will be used in iPACK block and 5 ml each will be used in medial upper and lateral upper genicular nerve block, respectively.
Group II: B-LB in left knee and B-DEX-MPA in right kneeExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
Participants in this arm will receive B-LB in their left knee and B-DEX-MPA in their right knee. Nerve block with (B-LB): A medication mixture of 40 ml (20 ml LB and 20 ml 0.25% plain bupivacaine) will be prepared, of which 20 ml will be used in Adductor canal block, 10 ml will be used in iPACK block and 5 ml each will be used in medial upper and lateral upper genicular nerve block, respectively. Nerve block with (B-DEX-MPA): A medication mixture of 40 ml (40 ml 0.25% plain bupivacaine, 10 mg DEX and 80 mg MPA) will be prepared, of which 20 ml will be used in Adductor canal block, 10 ml will be used in iPACK block and 5 ml each will be used in medial upper and lateral upper genicular nerve block, respectively.

Research Highlights

Information in this section is not a recommendation. We encourage patients to speak with their healthcare team when evaluating any treatment decision.
Mechanism Of Action
Side Effect Profile
Prior Approvals
Other Research
Corticosteroids such as dexamethasone sodium phosphate and methylprednisolone acetate reduce inflammation and immune responses, thereby decreasing pain and swelling after Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA). Local anesthetics like bupivacaine block nerve signals in the surgical area, providing direct pain relief by numbing the tissues. These treatments are essential for TKA patients as they help manage postoperative pain, reduce the need for narcotics, and improve overall recovery outcomes.
Postoperative intravenous dexamethasone administration: a preliminary investigation.Multiple Treatment Meta-Analysis of Intra-Articular Injection for Temporomandibular Osteoarthritis.Do Corticosteroids Attenuate the Peri-Operative Acute Phase Response After Total Knee Arthroplasty?

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

Yale UniversityLead Sponsor
1,926 Previous Clinical Trials
3,031,266 Total Patients Enrolled
Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Development FundUNKNOWN
1 Previous Clinical Trials
250 Total Patients Enrolled
Jinlei Li, MD PhDPrincipal InvestigatorYale University
1 Previous Clinical Trials
250 Total Patients Enrolled

Media Library

Bupivacaine-Liposomal Bupivacaine (Local Anesthetic) Clinical Trial Eligibility Overview. Trial Name: NCT05736549 — Phase 2
Total Knee Arthroplasty Research Study Groups: B-LB in left knee and B-DEX-MPA in right knee, B-LB in right knee and B-DEX-MPA in left knee
Total Knee Arthroplasty Clinical Trial 2023: Bupivacaine-Liposomal Bupivacaine Highlights & Side Effects. Trial Name: NCT05736549 — Phase 2
Bupivacaine-Liposomal Bupivacaine (Local Anesthetic) 2023 Treatment Timeline for Medical Study. Trial Name: NCT05736549 — Phase 2
Total Knee Arthroplasty Patient Testimony for trial: Trial Name: NCT05736549 — Phase 2
~5 spots leftby Mar 2025