Nerve Block of the Proximal Interphalangeal Joints PIPs in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Patients: a Prospective Pilot Study

Nerve Block of the Proximal Interphalyngeal Joints PIPs in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Patients: a Prospective Pilot Study

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT04130178

Enrollment

Registered

2019-10-17

Start date

2019-10-15

Completion date

2020-01-25

Last updated

2020-12-28

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Brief summary

Researchers will include 83 rheumatoid arthritis patients (either early or established) diagnosed after 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria with bilateral hand arthritis aged 18 or above. Nerve block to the neural bundle of the 2nd and 3rd PIPs will be done to one hand (the dominant in half of the participants and the non-dominant in the remaining). The other hand will be used as a control and injected subcutaneously with saline. Half ml of Bupivacaine will be injected through a 27G needle at the level of the volar proximal digital crease of the 2nd and 3rd PIP. The needle will be directed alternatively toward the two pedicles on both sides. PIPs of the 2nd and 3rd fingers in both hands will be examined EULAR-OMERACT scoring system at 0, 2 weeks, and 2 months intervals. Visual analog scale (VAS) for each hand will be used at the same intervals. There are no certain conditions for medications and all the patients were using sDMARDS.

Detailed description

PIPs of the 2nd and 3rd fingers at the control group will be injected with .5 mL of saline on each joint through a 27G needle.

Interventions

DRUGNerve block

block of the digital nerves in rheumatoid arthritis patient

DRUGSaline injection

subcutaneous saline injection

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to No maximum

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

* Rheumatoid arthritis patient according to ACR/EULAR criteria * age \>18 * bilateral hand affection

Exclusion criteria

* peripheral neuropathy * other chronic arthritis * patient who did mastectomy or any other hand operation

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Change in pain	0 time after 2 weeks and after 2 months	by visual analogue sclae
Change in the degree of inflammation	at 0 time after 2 weeks and after 2 months	Musculoskeletal ultrasound evaluation by EULAR-OMERACT score

Countries

Egypt

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026