A Phase 3 interventional study of Bupivacaine 0.25% and Dexamethasone in Postoperative Pain and Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA), sponsored by Assiut University. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 60 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-29.
Sponsored by Assiut University · Phase 3, Interventional, and Treatment
This study evaluates and compares the analgesic efficacy and safety of adding dexamethasone versus dexmedetomidine to bupivacaine in an ultrasound-guided pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block combined with a lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) block in patients undergoing elective total hip replacement under spinal anesthesia.
Total hip replacement is associated with substantial acute postoperative pain. The PENG block targets sensory articular branches supplying the hip while preserving quadriceps muscle strength, facilitating early postoperative ambulation. Supplementation with an LFCN block expands sensory coverage to the lateral surgical incision. Adding perineural adjuvants, such as dexamethasone or dexmedetomidine, to local anesthetics may prolong sensory block duration and reduce opioid requirements.
A total of 90 adult participants aged 18 to 60 years will be randomly assigned to one of three equal groups (30 patients each):
All participants across all groups will receive an LFCN block with 5 mL of plain bupivacaine 0.25% without adjuvants.
The primary outcome is the time to the first request for rescue analgesia (duration of postoperative analgesia). Secondary outcomes include total morphine consumption over the first 24 hours, pain intensity measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), intraoperative and postoperative hemodynamic stability, sedation levels, quality of recovery assessed at 24 hours via the Quality of Recovery-15 (QoR-15) questionnaire, and the incidence of any adverse effects or block-related complications.
Exclusion Criteria:
Participants receive an ultrasound-guided Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) block using 20 mL of plain bupivacaine 0.25% alone, followed by a lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) block using 5 mL of plain bupivacaine 0.25% without adjuvant.
Drug: Bupivacaine 0.25%
Participants receive an ultrasound-guided Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) block using bupivacaine 0.25% with dexamethasone 4 mg added (total volume 20 mL), followed by an LFCN block using 5 mL of plain bupivacaine 0.25% without adjuvant.
Drug: Bupivacaine 0.25% · Drug: Dexamethasone
Participants receive an ultrasound-guided Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) block using bupivacaine 0.25% with dexmedetomidine 1 µg/kg added (total volume 20 mL), followed by an LFCN block using 5 mL of plain bupivacaine 0.25% without adjuvant.
Drug: Bupivacaine 0.25% · Drug: Dexmedetomidine
Plain bupivacaine 0.25% (20 mL) administered perineurally via ultrasound-guided Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) block, along with plain bupivacaine 0.25% (5 mL) for Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve (LFCN) block without adjuvant.
Perineural dexamethasone 4 mg combined with bupivacaine 0.25% to an identical total volume of 20 mL, administered via ultrasound-guided Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) block, along with plain bupivacaine 0.25% (5 mL) for LFCN block.
Perineural dexmedetomidine 1 µg/kg combined with bupivacaine 0.25% to an identical total volume of 20 mL, administered via ultrasound-guided Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) block, along with plain bupivacaine 0.25% (5 mL) for LFCN block.
Time to First Request for Rescue Analgesia (Hours)
Duration of postoperative analgesia in hours, measured from the completion of the nerve block to the patient's first request for rescue analgesia (intravenous morphine PCA triggered for VAS score of 3 or greater). If a patient does not request analgesia within the observation period, data will be censored at 24 hours.
Time frame: Up to 24 hours postoperatively
No study locations are listed for this record.
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Assiut University