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Lidocaine vs Nerve Block for Knee Replacement Surgery (ACBSL Trial)

Phase 4
Recruiting
Led By Vendhan Ramanujam, M.D.
Research Sponsored by Rhode Island Hospital
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
ASA PS 1-3 patients undergoing primary, unilateral total knee arthroplasty
Be older than 18 years old
Must not have
Coagulopathy
Pre-existing neuropathy
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up up to 2 hours (post anesthesia recovery unit), 6 hours, 12 hours, and 24 hours after surgery.
Awards & highlights
Pivotal Trial
Drug Has Already Been Approved

Summary

This trial is testing whether lidocaine or a nerve block can help with pain relief after knee surgery.

Who is the study for?
This trial is for adults in good to moderate health (ASA PS 1-3) who are having their first knee replacement surgery on one knee. It's not for those with severe systemic disease, nerve issues, blood clotting problems, long-term opioid use, infections at the surgery site, allergies to lidocaine, certain heart conditions, a stroke history or liver disease.
What is being tested?
The study compares two types of anesthesia techniques in patients getting knee replacements: one group receives Lidocaine through an IV and the other gets a local anesthesia block guided by ultrasound near the thigh nerves.
What are the potential side effects?
Lidocaine may cause side effects like dizziness, sleepiness, changes in vision or hearing; rarely it can affect heart rhythm or cause seizures if blood levels get too high. Local blocks might lead to numbness or weakness in the leg temporarily.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below
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I am having my first knee replacement and my health is rated fair to poor.

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:
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I have a blood clotting disorder.
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I have nerve damage.
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I am currently using lidocaine patches.
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My health is severely limited by my illness.
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I have had a stroke or mini-stroke in the past.
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I have an infection at the site.
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I have a liver condition.
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I have a severe heart rhythm problem.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~up to 2 hours (post anesthesia recovery unit), 6 hours, 12 hours, and 24 hours after surgery.
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and up to 2 hours (post anesthesia recovery unit), 6 hours, 12 hours, and 24 hours after surgery. for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
Postoperative opioid consumption
Secondary study objectives
Pain Scores
Quality of Recovery

Awards & Highlights

Pivotal Trial
The final step before approval, pivotal trials feature drugs that have already shown basic safety & efficacy.
Drug Has Already Been Approved
The FDA has already approved this drug, and is just seeking more data.

Trial Design

2Treatment groups
Active Control
Placebo Group
Group I: Ultrasound-guided adductor canal block with local anestheticActive Control1 Intervention
Single shot Ultrasound-guided adductor canal block with 0.5% ropivacaine 30 ml
Group II: Ultrasound-guided adductor canal block with salinePlacebo Group1 Intervention
Single shot Ultrasound-guided adductor canal block with 30 mL of normal saline (Sodium chloride)

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

Rhode Island HospitalLead Sponsor
263 Previous Clinical Trials
68,675 Total Patients Enrolled
Vendhan Ramanujam, M.D.Principal InvestigatorRhode Island Hospital, Brown University
Alexander Cohen, M.D.Principal InvestigatorRhode Island Hospital, Brown University
1 Previous Clinical Trials
110 Total Patients Enrolled
~26 spots leftby Nov 2025