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CompletedNCT04821245Updated May 25, 2021Results posted

Defining Normal Postoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging After Total Knee Arthroplasty

An observational study in Local Anesthetic Complication and Local Anesthetic Drug Adverse Reaction, sponsored by Benaroya Research Institute. Completed at 1 site in United States. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2021-05-25.

Sponsored by Benaroya Research Institute · Observational

Study type
Observational
Model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
36
Sex
All
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Study summary

The aim of this study was to describe the postoperative "baseline" magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appearance of the ipsilateral thigh musculature after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The secondary aim was to describe baseline muscle enzyme levels under the same clinical scenario. Neither of these measures have been reported previously.

Read the detailed description
  • In 2016, 3 sentinel cases of presumed local anesthetic-induced myotoxicity were reported after TKA with associated continuous adductor canal block (CACB) analgesia. The diagnosis was made based on its consistency with animal and human descriptions of local anesthetic myotoxicity, including: a) exposure to local anesthetic, b) delayed symptom onset after a period of normal recovery, c) rapid development of profound muscle flaccidity, and d) complete to partial recovery of motor function after weeks to months. MRIs obtained in these patients showed diffuse intra- and inter-muscular edema (inflammation) of the ipsilateral thigh, which was believed to support the presumptive diagnosis. However, because baseline MRI appearance of upper leg muscles has never been described for this clinical scenario, it is possible that the MRI scans represented "normal, baseline" appearance.
  • This case series intended to prospectively describe postoperative MRI appearance in a cohort of asymptomatic volunteer patients that underwent uncomplicated TKA/CACB. In addition, because obtaining biomarkers of muscle injury might also be a reasonable diagnostic step, we sought to measure preoperative and postoperative creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and aldolase levels.
  • MRI scans were read by 5 board-certified musculoskeletal radiologists masked to the study's purpose. Grading was done using a standard grid that facilitated systematic evaluation of various regions within the upper leg. At least 3 of 5 radiologists were required to declare edema as present within a given region of the leg.
  • Only those volunteer patients that presented a normal postoperative course, i.e., had no unexpected leg muscle weakness, were entered into the study. As such, the MRI and muscle enzyme analysis results had no impact on the volunteer patients' clinical outcome or management. This was a prospective, observational/descriptive case series. There was no control group and we did not intend to investigate issues of cause-and-effect.
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Conditions studied

  • Local Anesthetic Complication
  • Local Anesthetic Drug Adverse Reaction

Keywords

  • Myotoxicity
  • Myositis
  • Magnetic resonance imaging
  • Creatine phosphokinase
  • Aldolase
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In context

Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions

437 studies on the registry are indexed under Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; 76 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 36 is below the median of 330 across 159 observational studies indexed under Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions.

Browse Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions studies →

Lead sponsor

Benaroya Research Institute is the lead sponsor of 41 studies on the registry; 6 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

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Who can participate

Ages eligible
Child (0–17), Adult (18–64), Older adult (65+)
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

  • Volunteer patients of various age and sex
  • Number of volunteers and diagnostic studies determined by available grant monies
  • Volunteers were drawn from a population presenting for unilateral primary TKA performed by 1 of 2 orthopedic surgeons in a single institution

Inclusion criteria

  • Scheduled for unilateral primary TKA with CACB
  • TKA and early recovery was uncomplicated (no evidence of unexpected leg weakness)

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Contraindication to spinal anesthesia or adductor canal-based analgesia
  • History of muscle wasting or related disease
  • History of autoimmune disorders that may affect muscles
  • History of neurologic condition affecting the lower extremities
  • Contraindications to MRI
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Study design

Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
36 participants (actual)
Patient registry
No
06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of Participants With Edema

    Regions of the ipsilateral thigh were defined by muscle group, neuromuscular bundle, subcutaneous tissue, or inter-muscular fascial layers. Five board-certified musculoskeletal radiologists analyzed the scans for presence of edema. Edema was considered present if judged to be so by at least 3 of the 5 radiologists.

    Time frame: 1-2 days postoperative

Secondary outcomes

  1. Postoperative Muscle Enzyme Levels

    Participants with Postoperative Creatine Phosphokinase (CPK) or Aldolase levels above the upper limit of normal

    Time frame: Sample was drawn the morning after surgery

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Results

Posted May 25, 2021
Limitations and caveats
This case series aimed to describe MRI appearance and muscle enzyme levels presented under the same clinical conditions as the 3 sentinel cases of presumed local anesthetic myotoxicity after TKA/CACB. This descriptive design was not intended to sort cause-and-effect (that is, the relative role of surgery, pneumatic tourniquet, local anesthetic, etc.) in causing muscular edema or raising enzyme levels.

Participant flow

* Tertiary care medical center * December 2018 through August 2019 * Potential volunteers were contacted by the principal investigator at least 24 hours prior to their surgery. Informed consent was obtained at this point. * Volunteers could decline to proceed at any point from initial informed consent through MRI scan or final blood draw

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestoneSingle Cohort
Started36
Completed27
Not completed9
Withdrew: Withdrawal by subject3
Withdrew: Physician decision1
Withdrew: Protocol violation5

Outcome measures

PrimaryNumber of Participants With Edema

Regions of the ipsilateral thigh were defined by muscle group, neuromuscular bundle, subcutaneous tissue, or inter-muscular fascial layers. Five board-certified musculoskeletal radiologists analyzed the scans for presence of edema. Edema was considered present if judged to be so by at least 3 of the 5 radiologists.

Time frame:
1-2 days postoperative
Reported as:
Number · participants
Number of Participants With Edema
participantsParticipants Undergoing MRI
Number of Participants With Edema12
SecondaryPostoperative Muscle Enzyme Levels

Participants with Postoperative Creatine Phosphokinase (CPK) or Aldolase levels above the upper limit of normal

Time frame:
Sample was drawn the morning after surgery
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Postoperative Muscle Enzyme Levels
ParticipantsCPK AnalysisAldolase Analysis
Postoperative Muscle Enzyme Levels50

Adverse events

Collected over 10 days. Participant was evaluated at the time of the incident and twice during the 10 days thereafter.. Non-serious events are listed at a 1% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
MRI Appearance0/13 (0%)0/13 (0%)1/13 (7.7%)
Most frequent other events
Most frequent other events
EventMRI Appearance
Warmth around adductor canal catheter during MRIMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders1/13

Baseline characteristics

Age, Continuous
Age, Continuous(years)Overall Study
Mean62 (46 to 75)
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)Overall Study
Female18
Male9
Race and Ethnicity Not Collected
Race and Ethnicity Not Collected(Participants)Overall Study
Weight
Weight(kg)Overall Study
Mean89 (59 to 134)
08

Study locations

1 site
  • Benaroya Research Institute
    Seattle, Washington 98101, United States
09

References and documents

Publications

  • Neal JM, Salinas FV, Choi DS. Local Anesthetic-Induced Myotoxicity After Continuous Adductor Canal Block. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2016 Nov/Dec;41(6):723-727. doi: 10.1097/AAP.0000000000000466. PubMed 27662067 ↗
  • Neal JM, Salinas FV, Choi DS. Reply to Dr Kelly et al. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2017 May/Jun;42(3):414. doi: 10.1097/AAP.0000000000000574. No abstract available. PubMed 28419048 ↗
  • Hussain N, McCartney CJL, Neal JM, Chippor J, Banfield L, Abdallah FW. Local anaesthetic-induced myotoxicity in regional anaesthesia: a systematic review and empirical analysis. Br J Anaesth. 2018 Oct;121(4):822-841. doi: 10.1016/j.bja.2018.05.076. Epub 2018 Aug 8. PubMed 30236244 ↗
  • Mahyar L, Neal JM, Blackmore CC, Jackson DW, Hanson NA, MacDonald KM, Warren D, Verdin PJ. MRI and muscle enzymes do not support the diagnosis of local anesthetic myotoxicity: a descriptive case series. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2021 Aug;46(8):679-682. doi: 10.1136/rapm-2021-102772. Epub 2021 May 31. PubMed 34059556 ↗

Study documents

  • Protocol and statistical analysis plan · Apr 13, 2018
  • Statistical analysis plan · Apr 9, 2018
  • Informed consent form · Apr 25, 2019

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

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Yes — De-identified raw data in Excel format may be obtained from Joseph M. Neal, MD upon request.

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Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on May 25, 2021, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT04821245
Lead sponsor
Benaroya Research Institute
Collaborators
Washington State Society of Anesthesiologists
Responsible party
Joseph M. Neal (Affiliate Investigator, Benaroya Research Institute) — Principal investigator
First posted
Mar 29, 2021
Start date
Dec 4, 2018
Primary completion
Aug 2, 2019
Completion
Aug 2, 2019
Results posted
May 25, 2021
Last update
May 25, 2021

Study contacts

Joseph M Neal, MD
principal investigator · Benaroya Research Center at Virginia Mason Medical Center

Oversight

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

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in May 2021. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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