MedPath

Continuous Femoral Nerve Block Versus Local-wound Infiltration Analgesia For Patients Receiving Total Knee Arthroplasty --- A Randomized Controlled Trial

Phase 4
Conditions
Total Knee Arthroplasty
Postoperative Pain
Interventions
Procedure: CFNB group
Procedure: LWI group
Registration Number
NCT02284620
Lead Sponsor
First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University
Brief Summary

Post-operative pain after total knee arthroplasty is usually severe and impair the functional recovery of operated joints.The purpose of this study is to determine whether post-operative continuous femoral nerve block analgesia is superior to local wound infiltration combined with intravenous patient controlled analgesia in improving joint function and reducing the incidence of chronic post-surgical pain (CPSP).

Detailed Description

Major surgical types for knee included arthroscopy, total or partial knee arthroplastic surgery. These procedures are typically associated with severe pain. Function training, which is imperative after surgery for these patients, also aggravated pain.Post-operative pain after major knee surgery impaired post-operative knee recovery and prolonged inpatient length of stay.To maximize the efficacy and minimize the side effects of different options,a multi-modal analgesic regimen was recommended for patients underwent knee surgeries.Local wound infiltration and nerve block are given considerable attentions.Compared with systematic analgesia,nerve block with local anesthetics has been revealed to provide superior analgesia and better recovery of joint function compared with systemic analgesics. Currently,systematic evidence is sparse related to the comparative efficacy of pain control between local wound infiltration and nerve block,the investigators therefore conduct this randomized controlled trials.

This study was approved by the institutional review board of the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University. The protocol design is in accordance with Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) statement . This study is designed as a randomized controlled trial to compare the analgesic efficacy of continuous femoral nerve block (group CFNB) with local wound infiltration (group LWI).

Participants in group CFNB will receive a single injection for femoral nerve block intra-operatively combined with continuous femoral nerve block post-operatively guided by ultrasound and nerve stimulator.

Participants in group LWI will receive a peri-articular injection of suspension (48 ml of 0.8% ropivacaine with 2 ml of 40mg methylprednisolone) combined with intravenous non-opioid patient controlled analgesia.All participants will receive unified post-operative rehabilitation programme and the prophylaxis of infection and thrombo-embolism.

The primary outcome of this study is the incidence of chronic moderate-to-severe post-surgical pain.The secondary outcomes of this study are acute post-operative pain and rescue medication;knee function measured by WOMAC knee scores ;life ability measured by EQ-5D questionnaire;adverse events associated with the post-operative analgesia.

This study will be conducted under the supervision of an independent auditor. Every week, the auditor checked the data of the participants the day after the survey was conducted. Assessment of pain intensity and prognostic outcomes must be confirmed by the auditor in sampled population. When there is disagreement between surgeon and anesthesiologists in evaluating the prognosis of patients, the auditor must solve this disagreement by discussion with both evaluators. Data were double-entered by two statisticians with limitation of access and locked during statistical analysis.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
320
Inclusion Criteria
  • men and women over the 18 years and younger than 75 years old who had received selective unilateral knee replacement.
Exclusion Criteria
  • bilateral knee replacement
  • the secondary knee revision and knee surgery not interfering with articular joint cavity (wound debridement and suture)
  • American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) classification of anesthesia risk IV and V grade; body mass index higher than 35
  • coagulation dysfunction, which is assessed by activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) higher than the upper limit by 10s
  • prothrombin time (PT) higher than the upper limit by 5s
  • International Normalized Ratio (INR) higher than 1.3, or any of criteria met above
  • local infection of puncture sites
  • neurological diseases
  • uncontrolled general infection
  • intra-operative cardiac arrest.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
CFNB groupCFNB groupParticiants in this group will receive a single injection for femoral nerve block intra-operatively combined continuous femoral nerve block post-operatively. This technique will be guided by ultrasound and nerve stimulator.The regimen is a loading dose of 0.8% ropivacaine 30 ml intra-operatively and 0.15% ropivacaine 300ml in the form of continuous femoral nerve block post-operatively.
LWI groupLWI groupParticiants in this group will receive a peri-articular injection of suspension (48 ml of 0.8% ropivacaine with 2 ml of 40mg methylprednisolone) combined with intravenous patient controlled analgesia post-operatively (tramadol 800 mg and flurbiprofenaxetil 100 mg with saline added up to a volume of 80 ml )
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
chronic moderate-to-severe post-surgical pain3 months post-operatively

chronic moderate-to-severe post-surgical pain will be measured as more than 3 by numerical rating scale for pain

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Analgesic RescuePost-operative day 1 to 3

The dosages of opioid or non-opioid analgesic rescue medications

Life Quality3 months ,6 months and 12 months post-operatively

It will be assessed by EuroQol 5-Dimension Questionnaire(EQ-5D-3L)

acute pain post-operativelyPost-operative day 1 to 3

Pain intensity will be measured by visual analogue scale

Knee function3 months ,6 months and 12 months post-operatively

Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores will be used.

Adverse events associated with post-operative analgesiaFrom surgey to discharge of hospital

Catheter-related infection;Poor wound healing;Motor block;Drainage of operated joint

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

The First Affliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University

🇨🇳

Chongqing, Chongqing, China

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath