Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT02746874

Does Radiofrequency Ablation of the Articular Nerves of the Knee Prior to Total Knee Replacement Improve Pain Outcomes

More than 300,000 total knee joint replacement surgeries are performed per year in the United States and safe, effective management of post-operative pain in these patients, often elderly, deconditioned, obese, or with co-morbid diseases like sleep apnea, can be challenging and often require a multidisciplinary, multimodal approach. Opiates have been a mainstay of treatment in the post-operative period with varying degrees of success and complications. Inadequately controlled postoperative pain is not uncommon. Poorly controlled pain inhibits early mobilization and hinders post-operative physical therapy.

A new paradigm for treating post-operative pain following total knee replacement may be the use of cooled radiofrequency ablation (C-RFA) of the articular sensory nerve supply of the knee capsule prior to surgery, to desensitize the knee by blocking sensory afferents to the anterior capsule and thereby decrease post-operative pain. There are several publications that have demonstrated the use of RFA in patients with chronic knee pain from osteoarthritis however the use of RFA in the preoperative management of pain in patients undergoing total knee joint replacement has not been investigated.

The aim of this study is to determine if patients undergoing unilateral total knee replacement obtain any post-operative pain relieving benefits from C-RFA of the articular sensory nerve supply when performed prior to surgery, as compared to sham controls who receive only local anesthetic injections of these same nerves without the benefit of ablation treatment.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee

Age range

30 year–80 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Anesthesiology Pain Medicine Center

Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • osteoarthritis of the knee scheduled to undergo their first unilateral knee joint replacement
  • willingness to undergo fluoroscopy-guided C-RFA or sham treatment

Exclusion criteria

  • pregnancy,
  • severe cardiac/pulmonary compromise,
  • acute illness/infection,
  • coagulopathy
  • bleeding disorder,
  • allergic reactions,
  • contraindications to a local anesthetic

Treatment and study plan

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)

Procedure

The radiofrequency generator which will be turned on but will not be in the patient's view. The skin overlying the target sites identified with image guidance will be numb using lidocaine 1%. A needle will be placed through the skin to be optimally positioned according to the three targets. Sensory and motor testing will be performed to confirm appropriate placement. Lidocaine 2% 1-2cc will be injected prior to lesioning.

Simulated Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)

Procedure

The radiofrequency generator which will be turned on but will not be in the patient's view. The skin overlying the target sites identified with image guidance will be numb using lidocaine 1%. A needle will be placed through the skin to be optimally positioned according to the three targets. Sensory and motor testing will be performed to confirm appropriate placement. Lidocaine 2% 1-2cc will be injected. A simulate sham lesion will be performed at each target site.

Primary outcomes

  1. Opioid Consumption After Surgery

    Time frame: 48 hours

    Pain medication will be calculated into oral morphine equivalents (ME) for the first 48 hours after surgery. Morphine equivalents determine a patient's cumulative intake of any drugs in the opioid class.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Oral Morphine Equivalent Milligrams at Baseline.

    Time frame: Pre operative

    The total morphine equivalent (milligrams) reported by the subject at baseline.

  2. Oral Morphine Equivalents at Baseline Compared to 48 Hours Post-operative.

    Time frame: 48 hours

    Total oral morphine equivalents at baseline compared to oral morphine equivalents at 48 hours post-operative.

  3. Medication Quantification Scale III (MQSIII) Score 48 Hours Post-operative.

    Time frame: 48 hours

    Medication Quantification Scale III (MQSIII) is a method of quantifying different pain drug regimens by evaluating the use of 22 distinct drug classes (e.g., nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs], antidepressants, benzodiazepines, opiates). A single value is calculated based on a patient's pain medication profile, taking into account dosages, and the types of pain medications prescribed. The score is calculated for a given pharmacologic class by taking its detriment weight, as determined by the physician, multiplied by a score given for dosage. The scores for each pharmacologic class prescribed to a patient are then summed to determine the overall score of a given pain medication regimen. The scale ranges from (0 low (good) 500 high (poor).

  4. Number of Stairs Climbed on Post-operative Day 2.

    Time frame: Post operative day 2

    Number of stairs climbed on post-operative day 2 prior to discharge from the hospital.

  5. Distance Walked on Post-operative Day 2.

    Time frame: Post operative day 2

    Distance in feet walked on post-operative day 2 prior to discharge from the hospital.

  6. Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) Score 6 Months Post Operative

    Time frame: 6 months post operative

    Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) score 6 months post operative. The WOMAC score is a survey comprised of 24 items divided into three subscales: Pain (5 items), stiffness (2 items), and physical function (17 items). Subjects are asked a range of questions about their ability to carry out daily activities such as using the stairs, rising from sitting, lying in bed and conducting light or heavy domestic duties. Items are scored on a scale of 0-4 (lower scores indicate lower levels of symptoms or physical disability). Values are summed up for a combined WOMAC score of 0 (low) to 96 (high) Higher scores on the WOMAC indicate worse pain, stiffness, and functional limitation.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Northwestern University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Does Radiofrequency Ablation of the Articular Nerves of the Knee Prior to Total Knee Replacement Improve Pain Outcomes? A Prospective Randomized Sham-Control Trial With 6 Month Follow Up

Important dates

Study start
2016
Primary completion
2017
Study completion
2017
First posted
Apr 21, 2016
Registry last updated
Feb 2, 2021

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.