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CompletedNCT03404180Updated Jan 8, 2026Results posted

Peripheral Nerve Blocks for Above-the-knee Amputations

A Phase 4 interventional study of Peripheral nerve block and Intravenous Sedatives in Peripheral Vascular Diseases, Hyperglycaemia (Diabetic) and Hypertension, sponsored by University of Florida. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-01-08.

Sponsored by University of Florida · Phase 4, Interventional, and Basic science

Phase
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
30
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Surgery performed with nerve blocks and sedation may be safer and provide better pain control compared to general anesthesia and opioid therapy in high-risk patient populations such as elderly and troubled with peripheral vascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Read the detailed description

Avoidance of general anesthesia in certain high-risk patient populations may have additional benefits beyond improved postoperative pain scores and analgesic consumption. The primary objective of this research will be to evaluate the ability of the femoral, sciatic, lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN), and obturator blocks to provide surgical anesthesia.

02

Conditions studied

  • Peripheral Vascular Diseases
  • Hyperglycaemia (Diabetic)
  • Hypertension
  • Coronary Artery Disease
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients undergoing above-the-knee amputation or knee disarticulation
  • Ability to understand and provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patient refusal or inability to provide informed consent
  • True allergy, not sensitivity, to any of the following substances:
  • - Local anesthetics
  • - Propofol or other sedative agents
  • - General anesthetic agents
  • Pregnancy
  • Severe hepatic impairment
  • Evidence of infection at or near the proposed needle insertion site
  • Any sensorimotor deficit, whether acute or chronic, as determined by the PI
  • Chronic use of opioid medication
  • BMI ≥ 35
04

Study design

Phase
Phase 4
Primary purpose
Basic science
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
30 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Peripheral nerve block

    Prospectively evaluate peripheral nerve blocks as a primary anesthetic in the setting of above-the-knee amputations. All enrollees will be administered Intravenous sedatives using propofol or dexmedetomidine and have ultrasound-guided femoral and sciatic nerve blocks placed per current practice at research site. Single-injection obturator nerve blocks and lateral femoral cutaneous nerve blocks will also be performed.

    Procedure: Peripheral nerve block · Drug: Intravenous Sedatives · Procedure: Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve blocks · Procedure: Obturator nerve blocks

Interventions

  • ProcedurePeripheral nerve block

    All enrollees will have ultrasound-guided femoral and sciatic nerve blocks placed per current practice at research site. Single-injection obturator and lateral femoral cutaneous nerve blocks will also be performed.

  • DrugIntravenous Sedatives

    Intravenous sedation using propofol or dexmedetomidine will be administered.

    Also known as: Propofol or Dexmedetomidine

  • ProcedureLateral femoral cutaneous nerve blocks

    After administration of intravenous sedation, lateral femoral cutaneous and obturator nerve blocks (in addition to the femoral and sciatic catheters) will be performed under ultrasound guidance.

  • ProcedureObturator nerve blocks

    After administration of intravenous sedation, lateral femoral cutaneous and obturator nerve blocks (in addition to the femoral and sciatic catheters) will be performed under ultrasound guidance.

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Peripheral Nerve Block Success as a Primary Anesthetic

    Time frame: Intraoperative period (typically one to three hours)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Mortality

    The medical record will be reviewed to assess 30-day mortality.

    Time frame: Changes from baseline through 30 days post-operative.

06

Results

Posted Jan 8, 2026

Participant flow

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestonePeripheral Nerve Block
Started30
Completed30
Not completed0

Outcome measures

PrimaryPeripheral Nerve Block Success as a Primary Anesthetic
Time frame:
Intraoperative period (typically one to three hours)
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Peripheral Nerve Block Success as a Primary Anesthetic
ParticipantsPeripheral Nerve Block
Peripheral Nerve Block Success as a Primary Anesthetic1
SecondaryMortality

The medical record will be reviewed to assess 30-day mortality.

Time frame:
Changes from baseline through 30 days post-operative.
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Mortality
ParticipantsPeripheral Nerve Block
Mortality1

Adverse events

Collected over Adverse events were monitored from informed consent until 30 days after surgery. Active adverse events assessments occurred at Day 30 post-enrollment (±7 days).. Non-serious events are listed at a 0% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
Peripheral Nerve Block1/30 (3.3%)0/30 (0%)0/30 (0%)

Baseline characteristics

Age, Categorical
Age, Categorical(Participants)Peripheral Nerve Block
<=18 years0
Between 18 and 65 years8
>=65 years22
Age, Continuous
Age, Continuous(years)Peripheral Nerve Block
Mean69.9 ± 8.7
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)Peripheral Nerve Block
Female0
Male30
Race and Ethnicity Not Collected
Race and Ethnicity Not Collected(Participants)Peripheral Nerve Block
Region of Enrollment
Region of Enrollment(Participants)Peripheral Nerve Block
United States30
07

Study locations

1 site
  • University of Florida
    Gainesville, Florida 32611, United States
08

References and documents

Study documents

  • Protocol and statistical analysis plan · Mar 26, 2025
  • Informed consent form · Oct 29, 2019

Documents are hosted by the registry — open the source record to download them.

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03404180
Lead sponsor
University of Florida
Collaborators
US Department of Veterans Affairs
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Jan 19, 2018
Start date
Feb 9, 2018
Primary completion
Dec 18, 2024
Completion
Dec 18, 2024
Results posted
Jan 8, 2026
Last update
Jan 8, 2026

Study contacts

José R Soberón, MD
principal investigator · Malcom Randall VA Medical Center

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Aug 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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