Protracted Effect of Combined Nerve Blocks After Total Knee Arthroplasty

Summary

Purpose:

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the postoperative analgesic effect of a combined Saphenous nerve block and Obturator nerve block with local infiltration analgesia in the tissue around the knee after surgery with knee replacement. In the combined nerve blocks we use a mixture of Bupivacaine, Adrenaline, Clonidine and Dexamethasone ("protracted mixture") and the local infiltration consist of Ropivacaine, Adrenaline and Toradol. Our hypothesis is that the combined nerve blocks with protracted mixture prolongs block duration, reduces pain and reduces the need for morphine and thus reduce side effects such as nausea, vomiting and lethargy compared to the current treatment with local infiltration analgesia.

Background:

Nerve blocks as analgesic treatment after orthopedic surgery is a recognized and proven procedure. The nerve blocks have the disadvantage that not only do they anesthetize the sensory nerve fibers but also the nerve fibers to the muscles of the leg. The Saphenous nerve block causes only stunning of sensory nerves to the knee region. The Obturator nerve block causes both stunning of the sensory nerves to the knee region and the thighs inward leading muscles, and does not affect the patient's mobilization capacity.

Both blocks are known to be a good addition to the analgesic treatment. Bupivacaine is a well-known local anesthetic. Adrenaline, Clonidine and Dexamethasone have also been used in other studies, in addition to the local anesthetic agent, and has been shown to prolong the effect of the nerve block. Saphenous and Obturator nerve block with all four drugs Bupivacaine, Adrenaline, Clonidine and Dexamethasone has not been systematically investigated in knee replacement surgery, and it is not known whether this method will provide better pain treatment.

Method

The patient can receive one of three treatments, determined randomly:

* A. Saphenous and Obturator nerve block with active anesthetics (Bupivacaine, Adrenaline, Clonidine, Dexamethasone) and local block around the knee joint with placebo medicine (normal saline).
* B. Saphenous block with active anesthetics and both Obturator nerve block and local block around the knee joint with placebo medicine (normal saline).
* C. Both block with placebo medicine (normal saline) and local block around the knee joint with effective local anesthetic.

Neither patient, investigator or staff around the patient will have knowledge of which treatment the patient has received.

The blocks will be injected before the operation and local infiltration around the knee joint will be given by the surgeon during the operation.

Conditions

• Total Knee Arthroplasty
• Pain
• Nerve Blocks

Interventions

DRUG

Dexamethasone 4 mg + Clonidine 75 microgram + Marcaine 90 mg + Adrenaline 90 microgram

Dexamethasone 4 mg Clonidine 75 microgram Marcaine 90 mg Adrenaline 90 microgram

DRUG

Dexamethasone 2 mg + Clonidine 37,5 microgram + Marcaine 45 mg + Adrenaline 45 microgram

Dexamethasone 2 mg Clonidine 37,5 microgram Marcaine 45 mg Adrenaline 45 microgram

DRUG

Ropivacaine + Toradol + Adrenaline

Ropivacaine 300 mg + Toradol 45 mg + Adrenaline 0,75 mg

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Regionshospitalet Silkeborg

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

50 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2014-02-28

Primary Completion

2014-12-31

Completion

2014-12-31

Countries

• Denmark

Study Locations