Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
When a person has had surgery on their knee or inside of the lower leg (tibia), effective pain relief is very important part of recovery and rehabilitation. Ideally, pain relief would allow a patient to move their leg and be able to stand or walk (mobilise) straight away after an operation, without complications. An emerging form of providing pain relief for these patients is by using a technique called a saphenous nerve block. This involves injecting a local anaesthetic (numbing agent) into the saphenous nerve. It is the longest branch coming off the femoral nerve (the main nerve that supplies the leg) and is a pure sensory nerve, meaning that it is responsible for detecting sensations (such as temperature, touch or pain) and does not affect movement. The nerve block procedure works by “turning off” (blocking) the pain signals coming from the affected area and preventing excess inflammation (swelling). Many nerve block procedures also affect motor nerves (responsible for controlling movement), and so can prevent patients from moving, possibly slowing down their recovery. It is well known that using a large volume of anaesthetic in a nerve block procedure can lead to unwanted spreading to motor nerves (motor blockade). The aim of this study is to find the minimum effective local anesthetic dose to perform a saphenous nerve block in healthy volunteers.
Who can participate?
Healthy adults aged between 18 and 65.
What does the study involve?
All participants receive an ultrasound-guided saphenous nerve block on their left leg. This involves using an ultrasound probe (which uses high-frequency sound waves) to visualize the nerves in the leg, to guide the injection of mepivacaine (local anaesthetic) along the saphenous nerve. The needle which injects the mepivacaine enters the skin at mid-thigh level, and is guided into the correct place using the ultrasound images of the leg, projected onto a screen. The amount of anaesthetic needed to achieve a nerve block in each patient determines how much is given to the next patient (i.e. increasing the dose by 1ml each time). Thirty minutes after the block, all participants have the area of skin that is controlled by the saphenous nerve pricked with a pin and are asked whether they can feel it so that the most effective dose can be worked out.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There are no direct benefits for participants taking part in the study, although they do receive financial compensation for travel costs. There is a very small risk of infection, bleeding or nerve damage, however this is unlikely.
Where is the study run from?
Academic Medical Center (Netherlands)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
November 2014 to November 2015
Who is funding the study?
Academic Medical Center (Netherlands)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Werner ten Hoope
w.tenhoope@amc.uva.nl
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Dr Werner ten Hoope
ORCID ID
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7050-8019
Contact details
Academisch Medisch Centrum (Academic Medical Center)
Meibergdreef 9
Amsterdam
1105 AZ
Netherlands
+31 20 5669111
w.tenhoope@amc.uva.nl
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
2014-004672-38
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
20141125 V2
Study information
Scientific title
Minimum local anaesthetic volumes for saphenous nerve block: A dose-finding study
Acronym
Study hypothesis
The aim of this study is to characterize the minimum volume of local anesthetic volume effective saphenous nerve block in volunteers.
Ethics approval
Medical Ethical Committee Academic Medical Centre, 05/01/2015, ref: 2014_348
Study design
Non-randomized single-centre single group dose esclation study
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Non randomised study
Trial setting
Hospitals
Trial type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet.
Condition
Saphenous nerve block
Intervention
Patients will receive a distal ultrasound-guided saphenous nerve block. Briefly, the ultrasound probe will be used to locate the femoral artery over the medial aspect of the thigh. The artery will be followed distally until it moves posteriorly through the adductor hiatus. Block will be performed 2 cm to this location. At this point, the saphenous nerve is in immediate proximity, medial to the artery. The block is performed using an amount of mepivacaine 2% dictated by the Dixon model.
Each patient’s response to the nerve block determines the volume of mepivacaine for the next patient. When successful saphenous nerve block is achieved, the volume for the next patient will be decreased with 1ml mepivacaine. Conversely, when no block can be detected, the volume for the next study patient will be increased with 1 ml mepivacaine. As described by Dixon, the study is finished after three oscillations (up/down) around a given volume. From these data, ED95 and ED50 can be calculated.
After the nerve block, an assessment of block onset will be performed at the apex patellae and, after 20 minutes, assessment of the main study parameter, block yes/no. After this, motor weakness is determined, and the sensory area anesthetized is mapped on the skin surface of each volunteer. Finally, block duration is determined by measuring every 15 minutes until sensory block disappears. The total duration of the intervention takes 4 hours maximum for a complete block offset. When the block wears of the volunteer completed the study.
Intervention type
Procedure/Surgery
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Effective volume to produce complete neural blockade is determined using a pinprick in the sensory area of the saphenous nerve to provoke a dichotomous yes/no answer, 30 minutes after block.
Secondary outcome measures
1. Influence of the volume on duration of sensory blockade is measured using pinpricks at the apex of the patella, medial aspect of the medial facet of the tibial plateau and the skin over the medial ankle at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 minutes, and then every 15 minutes until block resolution
2. Extent of potential motor blockade is measured using the MRC-scale 20 minutes after block onset
3. The maximum spread of sensory block on the skin surface is measured using pinpricks to establish the edge of the anaesthetised area 20 minutes after block onset
Overall trial start date
01/11/2014
Overall trial end date
01/11/2015
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Aged between 18 and 65 years
2. ASA physical status I-II (healthy)
Participant type
Healthy volunteer
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
Not possible to determine before start of the study, but expected is no more than 25 volunteers
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Allergy against local anesthetics
2. Contraindication for saphenous nerve block (infection at injection site, local pathology)
3. Ingestion of any pain medication within the past 24 hours
4. Pregnancy or breastfeeding
Recruitment start date
12/02/2015
Recruitment end date
01/09/2015
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Netherlands
Trial participating centre
Academic Medical Center
Meibergdreef 9
Amsterdam
1105AZ
Netherlands
Funders
Funder type
Hospital/treatment centre
Funder name
Academisch Medisch Centrum (Academic Medical Center)
Alternative name(s)
Academic Medical Center, AMC
Funding Body Type
private sector organisation
Funding Body Subtype
academic
Location
Netherlands
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Planned publication in a peer reviewed journal.
Intention to publish date
31/07/2016
Participant level data
Available on request
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list