An interventional study of nerve block with ropivacaine and Standard medical treatment in Sciatica Acute, sponsored by University of California, San Francisco. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-02.
Sponsored by University of California, San Francisco · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The goal of this clinical trial is to compare transgluteal sciatic nerve block to standard of care to treat sciatic back pain in adult patients who present to the emergency department.
The main question it aims to answer is: Is a transgluteal sciatic nerve block better than standard of care in improving pain in ER patients with sciatic back pain?
If there is a comparison group: Researchers will compare patients who receive transgluteal sciatic nerve blocks to patients who receive standard of care to see if pain scores improve in ER patients with sciatic back pain.
Participants will be randomized into the transgluteal sciatic nerve block group or the control group (standard of care). Participants will be asked to answer questions about their pain and will be asked to walk a timed short distance.
149 studies on the registry are indexed under Sciatica; 31 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 100 is above the median of 68 across 122 interventional studies indexed under Sciatica.
Browse Sciatica studies →University of California, San Francisco is the lead sponsor of 2,169 studies on the registry; 372 are open to participants now.
Of its 267 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 202 (76%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Patients will receive an ultrasound-guided transgluteal sciatic nerve block with 10-20 mL of 0.2% ropivacaine injected around the affected sciatic nerve at the level of the greater trochanter.
Procedure: nerve block with ropivacaine
Standard ED analgesic management per departmental protocols (oral/IV NSAIDs, acetaminophen, opioids, muscle relaxants).
Other: Standard medical treatment
Ultrasound-guided transgluteal sciatic nerve block with 10-20 mL of 0.2% ropivacaine injected around the affected sciatic nerve at the level of the greater trochanter
Standard ED analgesic management per departmental protocols (oral/IV NSAIDs, acetaminophen, opioids, muscle relaxants).
Pain scores
Patients in each group will be asked their pain score 30 minutes after their received intervention and at time of ED disposition (at decision point of admission to the hospital or discharge which can be up to 6 hours). Patients will then be contacted 24 and 48 hours after intervention to ask their pain score
Time frame: 30 minutes after intervention, time of ED disposition (at decision point of admission to the hospital or discharge which can be up to 6 hours), 24 hours after ED visit, 48 hours after ED visit
Ambulatory status
Before ED disposition, patients will be asked to perform another timed up and go (TUG) test. A patient rises from a chair, walks at a normal pace to a line (3 meters total), turns, walks back, and sits down. Patients will then be contacted 24 and 48 hours after intervention to ask about how their ambulatory status is.
Time frame: Before ED disposition, 24 and 48 hours after ED visit
ED Bouncback
A chart review will be performed after 30 days to assess bounce-back rate
Time frame: 30 days after ED visit
Plan to share: No
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