What this study is
The study aims to test the safety and effectiveness of two different surgeon-administered methods of the anesthesia medication EXPAREL during knee replacement surgery. This study will not determine whether one method is better than the other, but will instead help the study investigator decide if both methods can provide an equal amount of pain relief.
The main question this study aims to answer is:
Will EXPAREL provide an equal amount of pain relief for patients who receive EXPAREL via Intra-articular Posteromedial Surgeon Administered (IPSA) Block and patients that receive EXPAREL via Local Infiltration Analgesia (LIA)?
Following their surgery, participants will be asked to report their pain level on their treated knee using a numerical rating scale (NRS) between 0 to 10. In addition to their pain level, participants will report any medications used for pain relief and will mark specific regions on an image to indicate where they experience pain.
What's being tested
- Intra-articular Posteromedial Surgeon Administered (IPSA) Block with LIA
Intervention · PROCEDURE
The IPSA block is a specific surgeon technique which involves providing an injection of EXPAREL to the back of the knee, reaching into the joint space to provide pain relief. This arm will also receive the LIA procedure.
- Local Infiltration Analgesia (LIA)
Intervention · PROCEDURE
The local infiltration analgesia (LIA) procedure involves the administration of anesthesia with the use of several needle sticks to areas surrounding the knee joint.
- Bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension (IPSA block)
Intervention · DRUG
Group 1 will be given an IPSA block using 10 mL of EXPAREL mixed with 10 mL of bupivacaine HCl 0.5%. An injection around the knee joint will be given as well utilizing a cocktail of: 10 mL of EXPAREL, 10 mL of bupivacaine HCl 0.5%, and 40 mL normal saline.
- Bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension (LIA)
Intervention · DRUG
Group 2 will be given LIA with EXPAREL 20 mL (266 mg) mixed with 20 mL bupivacaine HCL 0.5% and 80 mL normal saline (total volume of 120 mL).
Study details
- Official title
- A Prospective, Single-Center, Randomized, Pilot Study to Assess the Clinical Effectiveness of EXPAREL as an Intra-articular Posteromedial Surgeon Administered (IPSA) Block Compared to Local Infiltration Analgesia in Subjects Undergoing Primary Unilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty
- Sponsor
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
- Conditions
- Total Knee Arthroplasty · Total Knee Arthroplasty Recovery
- Enrolling
- 40 people
- Starts
- 2026-06-01
- Est. completion
- 2026-08
- Design
- Single-blind, randomized, parallel groups, Phase 4
- Record
- View on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
Who can join
Age 18 Years and overSex ALLHealthy volunteers Not acceptedYou may qualify if
- 18 years of age or older
- Scheduled to undergo total knee arthroplasty (TKA) under spinal anesthesia
- Primary indication for TKA is degenerative osteoarthritis of the knee
- Able to provide informed consent, adhere to the study schedule, and complete all study assessments
- Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥18 and <40 kg/m2
You can't join if
- 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
- Undergoing knee surgery for a single area of the knee or a revision surgery
- History of knee replacement surgery within the past 6 months
- History of, suspected, or known addiction to or abuse of illicit drug(s), prescription medicine(s), or alcohol within the past 2 years
- 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
- Any individual who, per standard of care, is excluded from the surgery due to possibility of pregnancy.
- Male participant in a sexually active relation with pregnant or breastfeeding partner
- Clinically significant medical disease that, in the opinion of the Investigator, would make participation in a clinical study inappropriate.
- 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 within 30 days prior to surgery
Sign in and we'll check these against your records.Full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
Loading treatment details…
Study locations (1)
1 openCedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, California, United States
Study team
Sponsor
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Study ID Pro00003735
Principal investigator
Andrew I Spitzer, MD
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Frequently asked questions
The sponsor hasn't published answers to common questions for this trial.