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Effectiveness of Exparel Anesthetic Administered by the Surgeon During Knee Surgery

A Single-Center, Randomized, Pilot Study to Assess the Clinical Effectiveness of EXPAREL as an Intra-articular Posteromedial Surgeon Administered (IPSA) Block in Subjects Undergoing Primary Unilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty

Status
Recruiting
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06946368
Enrollment
60
Registered
2025-04-27
Start date
2025-08-18
Completion date
2026-12-11
Last updated
2025-09-10

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

Conditions

Total Knee Arthroplasty

Keywords

Exparel, Primary Unilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty, IPSA block

Brief summary

Intra-articular Posteromedial Surgeon Administered (IPSA) Block in this study describes a new type of medical procedure where a surgeon provides anesthetic medication directly into a specific area inside a knee joint to numb the pain during knee surgery. Intra-articular refers to inside of knee joint, posteromedial refers to the back and inner side of a knee joint, and surgeon administered means a surgeon is performing the procedure. Patients You will be randomly assigned to one of these three treatment groups: Group 1: Patients in this group will receive IPSA block and Local Infiltration Analgesia (LIA). IPSA block is a pain numbing medication given by surgeon and injected inside the back and inner side of the knee joint. Local Infiltration Analgesia is a pain numbing medication injection given by the surgeon around the surgical knee area. The medications used in the procedure will be EXPAREL, and Bupivacaine HCL. Group 2 (Control): Patients in this group will receive Adductor Canal Block (ACB) and Local Infiltration Analgesia (LIA). ACB is a pain numbing injection given by anesthesiologist near the adductor canal, a passage in the mid-thigh that contains nerves connecting the knee region. Local Infiltration Analgesia is a pain numbing medication injection given by the surgeon around the surgical knee area. The medications used in the procedure will be EXPAREL, and Bupivacaine HCL. Group 3: Patients in this group will receive Local Infiltration Analgesia (LIA). Local Infiltration Analgesia is a pain numbing medication injection given by the surgeon around the surgical knee area. The medications used in the procedure will be EXPAREL, and Bupivacaine HCL. The study will evaluate; * How effective the pain relief is after surgery. * How much extra pain medication you need. * Your satisfaction with pain management and recovery * Any side effects.

Detailed description

The study is a single-center, randomized, pilot study and will recruit up to 60 adult subjects undergoing unilateral total knee arthroplasty. Subjects will be randomized (1:1:1) to receive the treatments. The study participants will be followed for up to 90 days. Information on analgesic use, pain, satisfaction with pain management will be obtained from patients. Participation begins when you sign the consent form. The treatment will begin on the day of the surgery. Follow up calls will be done 14 days and 90 days after surgery. Your involvement will last about 123 days. Background and Rationale for the Study: This study is being conducted to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of the Intra-articular Posteromedial Surgeon Administered (IPSA) block in subjects undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This study aims to demonstrate that a surgeon administered IPSA block can provide equivalent pain control to an anesthesiologist administered adductor canal block (ACB). Method of Assigning Subjects to Treatment Randomization Scheme Randomization Procedures Once a subject is identified as being qualified for the study in accordance with the eligibility criteria, the Investigator or designee will obtain a randomization assignment on the day of surgery. The subject will be considered randomized to the study once the study treatment is assigned. Replacement of Subjects Subjects who withdraw from the study before the study treatment procedure may be replaced. Once a subject number is assigned, subject numbers will not be reused; subjects enrolled to replace those who withdraw will be assigned a unique subject number and randomized to treatment according to the procedures outlined above. Subjects who are randomized but are withdrawn from the study before receiving the study drug may be replaced. Additionally, subjects may be replaced if insufficient and/or incomplete data are noted on safety or clinical outcomes.

Interventions

PROCEDUREIntra-articular Posteromedial Surgeon Administered (IPSA) Block of EXPAREL

Patients in this group will receive IPSA block and Local Infiltration Analgesia (LIA). IPSA block is a pain numbing medication given by surgeon and injected inside the back and inner side of the knee joint. Local Infiltration Analgesia is a pain numbing medication injection given by the surgeon around the surgical knee area. The medications used in the procedure will be EXPAREL, and Bupivacaine HCL.

PROCEDUREAdductor Canal Block (ACB) and Local Local Infiltration Analgesia of EXPAREL

ACB is a pain numbing injection given by anesthesiologist near the adductor canal, a passage in the mid-thigh that contains nerves connecting the knee region. Local Infiltration Analgesia is a pain numbing medication injection given by the surgeon around the surgical knee area. The medications used in the procedure will be EXPAREL, and Bupivacaine HCL.

PROCEDURELocal Infiltration Analgesia (LIA) of EXPAREL

Local Infiltration Analgesia is a pain numbing medication injection given by the surgeon around the surgical knee area. The medications used in the procedure will be EXPAREL, and Bupivacaine HCL.

Sponsors

Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
The Cleveland Clinic
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

This is a randomized pilot study. The study will enroll 60 total subjects 1:1:1 to receive treatment on the day of surgery. The randomization code will be computer-generated.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria: Subjects must meet all of the following inclusion criteria to be eligible for participation: 1\. Subjects ages 18 or older at screening 2. Indicated to undergo primary unilateral total knee arthroplasty under spinal anesthesia 3. Primary indication for TKA is degenerative osteoarthritis of the knee 4. American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status 1, 2, or 3 (see Appendix 6) 5. Able to provide informed consent, adhere to the study schedule, and complete all study assessments 6. Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥18 and \<40 kg/m2 \-

Exclusion criteria

* Subjects who meet any of the following

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Questionnaires to assess the Pain levels of subjects enrolled in the study120 daysPatients answer survey questionnaires about knee pain and general health. Pain levels will be taken regularly at 8, 24, 48 and 72 hours after surgery at the healthcare facility. Follow up questionnaire on pain levels will be done at 14 days and 90 days post-surgery. Patients share how satisfied they are with pain management at 72 hours, 14 days and 90 days after surgery. Subject's Reported Pain (Numeric Rating Scale) Pain intensity scores Subject will evaluate their pain in the operative knee using an 11-point Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), where 0=no pain and 10=worst possible pain.
Evaluate safety and any side effects120 daysRecord any (i.e., adverse events \[AEs\]) related to the EXPAREL IPSA block for the enrolled subjects.
Medication usage120 daysInformation about concomitant medication usage including opioids and analgesics
Subject Satisfaction Assessments120 daysSubject Satisfaction Assessments (Likert Scale) Subject Satisfaction with Pain Management Overall satisfaction with your pain management. (Select one number only) 1. Extremely dissatisfied 2. Dissatisfied 3. Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied 4. Satisfied 5. Extremely satisfied
Knee and general health survey120 daysQuestionnaires on knee health and general health. KOOS JR : Knee function will be assessed by the KOOS-JR questionnaire Forgotten Joint Score - 12: Joint Awareness questionnaires The Veterans RAND 12 Item Health Survey (VR-12): Health related quality of life will be assessed by the VR-12
Body Mass Index120 daysweight and height measurements will be taken and calculated to report BMI in kg/m\^2).

Countries

United States

Contacts

Primary ContactSanalkumar Krishnan, PhD
krishns11@ccf.org216-445-7194
Backup ContactJaime Shuster, PhD
shustej3@ccf.org216- 906-0508

Outcome results

None listed

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