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
The Cleveland Clinic
60 participants
Aug 18, 2025
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
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.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria2
- \. 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 Criteria15
- Allergy, hypersensitivity, intolerance, or contraindication to any of the study medications for which an alternative is not named in the protocol (e.g., amide-type local anesthetics, opioids, bupivacaine HCl, NSAIDs)
- Planned concurrent surgical procedure (e.g., bilateral TKA)
- Undergoing unicompartmental TKA or revision TKA
- Concurrent painful physical condition (e.g. arthritis, fibromyalgia, cancer) that may require analgesic treatment with NSAIDs or opioids in the post dosing period for pain that is not strictly related to the knee surgery and which, in the Investigator's opinion, may confound the post dosing assessments
- Inadequate sensory function below the knee as assessed by the Investigator
- History of contralateral TKA within 1 year
- Previous open knee surgery on the knee being considered for TKA. Prior arthroscopy is permitted
- History of, suspected, or known addiction to or abuse of illicit drug(s), prescription medicine(s), or alcohol within the past 2 years
- Administration of an investigational drug within 30 days or 5 elimination half-lives of such investigational drug, whichever is longer, prior to study drug administration, or planned administration of another investigational product or procedure during the subject's participation in this study
- Previous participation in an EXPAREL study
- Uncontrolled anxiety, schizophrenia, or other psychiatric disorder that, in the opinion of the Investigator, could interfere with study assessments or compliance
- Currently pregnant, nursing, or planning to become pregnant during the study
- Clinically significant medical disease that, in the opinion of the Investigator, would make participation in a clinical study inappropriate. This includes diabetic neuropathy, coagulation or bleeding disorders, severe peripheral vascular disease, renal insufficiency, hepatic dysfunction or other conditions that would constitute a contraindication to participation in the study.
- Any use of marijuana \[including Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD)\] within 30 days prior to randomization, or planned use during the course of the study
- Chronic opioid use (average ≥30 oral morphine equivalents/day) within 30 days prior to surgery
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Interventions
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.
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.
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.
Locations(1)
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NCT06946368