A Phase 4 interventional study of Bupivacaine-EPINEPHrine 0.5%-1:200,000 Injectable Solution and Sodium Chloride 0.9 % in Pain, Postoperative, sponsored by University of Aarhus. Terminated at 1 site in Denmark. Open to participants aged 50 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2019-04-25.
Sponsored by University of Aarhus · Phase 4, Interventional, and Treatment
This study aims to assess the analgesic effect of the popliteal plexus block as a supplement to a femoral triangle block in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty
A femoral triangle block (FTB) effectively anesthetizes the anterior group of nerves innervating the knee (infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve, the medial femoral cutaneous nerve and the terminal branch of the medial vastus muscle nerve). However, the posterior group of nerves innervating the knee joint is not covered with an FTB, and therefore most patients complain of significant, opioid-requiring pain despite a successful FTB.
The posterior group consists of the popliteal plexus, which is derived from the tibial nerve and the posterior branch of the obturator nerve. The popliteal plexus is located in the popliteal fossa, where it entwines the popliteal artery and vein. Recent cadaver studies have suggested that an injection into the distal part of the adductor canal will spread to the popliteal fossa (PubMed Identifier (ID): 28937534; PubMed ID: 27442773).
This study aims to assess the analgesic effect of the popliteal plexus block (PPB) as a supplement to a femoral triangle block (FTB) after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).
In the study all patients will receive an FTB with 10 ml bupivacaine-epinephrine (0.5%-1:200,000) with the addition of 0.5 ml Dexamethasone (4 mg/ml).
All patients are postoperatively observed for the development of significant pain (NRS > 3) in the primary observation period (POP) defined as: a 3-hour observation period starting at the return of completely normal cutaneous sensation (lateral thigh and lateral side of the lower leg) after spinal anesthesia. If the patient reports pain (NRS > 3) in the POP, the patient will be randomized to the study treatment - a PPB with 10 ml bupivacaine-epinephrine or 10 ml saline.
Exclusion Criteria:
10 ml Bupivacaine-Epinephrine 0.5%-1:200,000 Injectable Solution
Drug: Bupivacaine-EPINEPHrine 0.5%-1:200,000 Injectable Solution
10 ml Sodium Chloride 0.9 %
Other: Sodium Chloride 0.9 %
10 ml
Also known as: Marcain-adrenaline
10 ml
Success of the popliteal plexus block (PPB)
Success of the PPB is defined as the proportion of patients with significant postoperative pain (NRS \> 3) after FTB, who drop in pain score to NRS ≤ 3 after PPB and maintain NRS ≤ 3 without any opioids until 60 minutes after PPB
Time frame: 60 minutes after placement of the PPB
Onset time of the PPB
The onset time is defined as the time from withdrawal of the block needle and until the patient reports NRS ≤ 3. The maximal onset time is defined as 60 minutes
Time frame: The pain scores after PPB are evaluated every 5 minutes until 15 minutes after PPB and hereafter every 15 minutes until 60 minutes after PPB
The effect of the PPB on cutaneous sensation
Performed as a pinprick test on the lateral aspect of the lower leg. Sensation to pinprick is graded on a 3-point scale: 0 = no sensation, 1 = reduced sensation and 2 = normal sensation to pinprick compared to the contralateral side
Time frame: Baseline and 2 hours after the placement of the PPB
The effect of PPB on isometric muscle strength of the he dorso- and plantar flexors of the ankle joint
Dorsal and plantar flexion of the foot is measured as the maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC). During the test, a handheld dynamometer is kept immobile and the patient is asked to push against the dynamometer with maximal force and maintain this maximal pressure for 5 seconds. The MVIC is measured three times, separated by a 30-second pause, and the highest of the three MVIC values is registered
Time frame: Baseline and 2 hours after the placement of the PPB
Opioid consumption from 0-4 hours
Registered from the electronic patient record
Time frame: Subjects receiving PPB: From after PPB placement and up until 4 hours after PPB. Subjects not receiving PPB: From the end of the primary observation period (POP) and up until 4 hours after the end of the POP
Opioid consumption from 4-24 hours
Registered from the electronic patient record
Time frame: Subjects receiving PPB: From 4 hours after PPB placement and up until 24 hours after PPB. Subjects not receiving PPB: From 4 hours after the end of the POP and up until 24 hours after the end of the POP
Pain scores (Numerical Rating Scale, NRS, 0-10 where 0 is "no pain" and 10 is "worst pain imaginable"
The patient is asked about the worst pain since last test time
Time frame: For subjects receiving a PPB, pain scores will be performed 2, 4 and 24 hours after PPB. For subjects not receiving a PPB, final pain scores will be made at the 24 hrs follow-up visit
Pain localization
Evaluated using a systematic questionnaire
Time frame: Subjects with NRS > 3: when significant pain is reported during the POP; 15 and 60 min after PPB; at any increase in NRS score at any time during the 60 min after PPB; 2, 4 and 24 hrs after PPB. For subjects with NRS ≤ 3: at the 24 hrs follow-up visit
The number of patients requiring a PPB
The number of patients experiencing NRS \> 3 as a proportion of all patients with femoral triangle block (FTB)
Time frame: All patients receive an FTB and are observed postoperatively for the development of NRS > 3 during the primary observation period (POP) defined as: A 3-hour observation period starting at the return of normal cutaneous sensation after spinal anesthesia
Plan to share: Undecided
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University of Aarhus