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BLOCK-study: Better Local Orthopedic Pain Control After Knee Arthroplasty

Infiltration of Local Anesthetics Between the Popliteal Artery and Capsule of the Knee (iPACK) With Femoral Triangle Block (TFB) Versus Surgical Local Infiltration Analgesia (LIA) in Unilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA): A Multicenter Double-blind, Prospective Randomized Controlled Study.

Status
Recruiting
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06746168
Acronym
BLOCK
Enrollment
210
Registered
2024-12-24
Start date
2025-01-09
Completion date
2027-11-30
Last updated
2025-02-20

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

Conditions

Knee Arthroplasty, Total

Keywords

iPACK, Femoral Triangle Block, Local infiltration analgesia, knee arthoplasty

Brief summary

The goal of this study is to compare the anesthetic combination iPACK with femoral triangle block versus surgical LIA for unilateral TKA. We hypothesize that an iPACK block with femoral triangle block is non-inferior to surgical LIA. Furthermore, due to visualization of the relevant neural and vascular structures, the risk of accidental popliteal block, nerve damage or LAST with (a blindly performed) LIA could theoretically be reduced.

Interventions

The FTB + iPACK group will receive 12 ml 0,5% ropivacaine for the FTB and 20 ml of ropivacaine 0.5% for the iPACK block under US guidance after spinal anesthesia

The control group (LIA) will receive 120 ml 0.25% ropivacaine for surgical LIA placement.

Sponsors

Jessa Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SEQUENTIAL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 85 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* ASA I-III * BMI 17-35 kg/m2 * Patient is able to give informed consent * Patient is scheduled for TKA

Exclusion criteria

* Refusal of patient * Inability to communicate due to language or neurologic barriers * Bilateral TKA or unilateral knee arthroplasty * Chronic opioid use (including partial opioid agonists) + chronic pain patients: * Use of atypical analgesics (gabapentin, pregabalin, …) * History of Sudeck atrophy * History of \>3 chronic pain consultations * Contraindications for spinal anesthesia * Patient refusal * Local infection * Aberrant coagulation (according to the latest ESRA guidelines) * Severe spinal canal stenosis * Intracranial hypertension * History of neurological injury in the affected limb * Contraindications for local anesthetics * Allergy for local anesthetics * Absolute contraindications for NSAIDs or paracetamol * Proven allergy for NSAID's (including ASA syndrome) or paracetamol * Severe renal function impairment (eGFR \<30 ml/min/1.73 m2) * Active or recent (\<6 months) history of gastric ulcera/perforations/bleeding * Crohn disease or colitis ulcerosa * Liver function impairment or severe renal function impairment (eGFR \<30 ml/min/1.73 m2) * Pregnancy or breast-feeding

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) pain score at mobilization at 8 hour postoperatively8 hours postoperativelyThe NRS pain score will be determined immediately after mobilizing patients from the bed to their seat at 8 hour postoperatively

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
NRS pain at rest for the first 24 hours24 hours postoperativelyThe Area Under the Curve for the NRS pain scores at rest will be evaluated at 4h-6h-8h-12h-24h after the surgery
Rate of popliteal block 8 hours after surgery8 hours postoperativelythe incidence of a popliteal block will be assessed 8 hours after surgery
Functional recovery: timed up and go testBaseline, 24 hours and 48 hours after surgeryPatients have to sit in a standard sitting chair, stand up from the chair, walk 3 meters, get back to the chair and sit down. A cut-off of 13.5 seconds or longer indicates higher risk of falls, normal values depend on age.
Functional recovery: 30-second sit-to-stand-chair testBaseline, 24 hours and 48 hours after surgeryIn the 30 seconds sit-to-stand chair test, patients must try to stand up and sit down again from a chair as much as possible in the 30 seconds time interval. Arms need to be crossed and may not be used to stand up. Normal values vary according to age.
NRS pain at movement for the first 24 hours24 hours postoperativelyThe Area Under the Curve for the NRS pain scores at movement will be evaluated at 4h-6h-8h-12h-24h after the surgery
Quality of Life: WOMAC questionnaireBaseline, 3 months, 6 monthsThe WOMAC-index (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoartritis index) evaluates the broader functional impact of (initially) osteoarthritis but is now often used as quality of life indicator after total knee arthroplasty.
Incidence of rescue blocks8 to 12 hours after the spinal anesthesiaIn case of persistent pain (NRS \> 6) despite the abovementioned regimen (cut-off: need for more than 20 opioid oral morphine milligrams equivalents over 12h), a rescue femoral triangle (10-15 ml ropivacaine 0.5%) and iPACK block (20 ml ropivacaine 0.5%) can be applied 8-12h after the initial locoregional procedure.
Need for rescue analgesiaduring hospital stay, an average of 3 daysThe need and dose for rescue analgesia (oral morphine equivalents) will be calculated
Time to be fit for dischargeduring hospital stay, an average of 3 days\- Time to be fit for discharge as defined by: * Oral pain medication only * Independent walking (with crutches) * Full oral diet * Hemodynamically and respiratory (no need for oxygen) stable * No drains or urinary catheters This will be assess until day of discharge
Quality of Life: Short-form 36 (SF-36) questionnaireBaseline, 3 months, 6 monthsThe SF-36 questionaire is the most widely used health-related quality of life score. They identified 8 health concepts to be scored in the SF-36: Physical functioning, bodily pain, role limitations due to physical health problems, role limitations due to personal/emotional problems, general mental health, social functioning, energy/fatigue/vitality and general health perceptions.

Countries

Belgium

Contacts

Primary ContactBjorn Stessel, MD, PhD
bjorn.stessel@jessazh.be003211222107
Backup ContactIna Callebaut, PhD
ina.callebaut@jessazh.be003211339848

Outcome results

None listed

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