HealthyNCT06668116
The Impact of Local Anesthetic Dilution on Possible Blinding for Nerve Blocks
A study testing Ropivacaine 0,1% in people with Healthy, run by Balgrist University Hospital at 1 site in Switzerland.
Trial summary
This study aims to determine the appropriate dosage of a placebo anesthetic to enable future placebo-controlled studies that can more accurately examine the effects of nerve blocks. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Healthy
- What is being tested?
- Ropivacaine 0,1%
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 17 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSwitzerland
- Study dates
- 11 Dec 2024to 31 Oct 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- ASA I - II, both sexes
- ≥ 18 years old
- < 65 years old
- Written informed consent as documented by signature
Who cannot join
- Known allergy or hypersensitivity to a ropivacaine, amide local anesthetics or ultrasound gel
- Any history of chronic or acute pain at the moment of enrollment into the study
- Treatment with any substance having a relation to pain or pain modulation (antidepressants, opioids, benzodiazepines, anticonvulsants)
- Intake of any analgesic 48 hours prior to the conduction of any of the study stages
- Severe coagulopathy
- History of cardiovascular disease
Show all 12Show fewer
- History of alcohol abuse or the intake of psychotropic drugs
- Pregnancy, ruled out by history
- Infection at the injection site or a systemic infection
- Fever of unknown origin
- Motor or sensory abnormalities in the arm
- Previous enrollment into the current study
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Switzerland1 site
Balgrist University Hospital
Zurich, Canton of Zurich, 8008
About this study
Official title: The Impact of Local Anesthetic Dilution on the Possibility of Blinding Studies Involving Peripheral Nerve Blocks. A Randomized, Prospective, Monocentric Study on Volunteers
This study aims to determine the appropriate dosage of a placebo anesthetic to enable future placebo-controlled studies that can more accurately examine the effects of nerve blocks. The main challenge in conducting such studies is the difficulty in blinding participants and researchers due to the noticeable effects of nerve blocks, such as numbness and motor impairments.
The goal is to find a placebo solution that can:
Read more
- Mimic the sensations of a real nerve block
- Not provide actual pain relief
- Allow for effective blinding in future studies
By developing an appropriate placebo, researchers hope to:
- Enable more rigorous investigations into the efficacy of nerve blocks for pain management
- Conduct comprehensive placebo-controlled studies, which are currently lacking in the field
- Overcome the obstacle of ensuring successful blinding in nerve block research This study is focused to establish a methodology for creating a convincing placebo that can be used in future research to more accurately assess the true effects of nerve blocks in pain medicine.
Read the detailed description
Nerve blocks are medical procedures commonly used in pain management for three main purposes: diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. For diagnostic nerve blocks, the goal is to identify the source of pain. The underlying idea is straightforward: if numbing a specific nerve stops the pain, that nerve is likely the source of the problem. Conversely, if the pain persists after the nerve is numbed, it suggests that the issue lies elsewhere.
Prognostic nerve blocks serve a different function; they are used to test whether a future treatment might be successful. If a temporary nerve block alleviates pain, it indicates that a more permanent treatment targeting that nerve could be effective. Therapeutic nerve blocks aim to provide long-lasting pain relief, helping patients engage in physical therapy or acting as a treatment on their own.
Despite their widespread use, there is insufficient solid scientific evidence to fully support the effectiveness of nerve blocks. Most studies conducted so far rely on observational data rather than controlled experiments. This lack of robust evidence raises concerns because diagnostic and prognostic blocks may lead to incorrect diagnoses or ineffective treatments. Additionally, therapeutic blocks can be invasive and costly, yet their effectiveness is not always guaranteed.
One significant challenge in researching nerve blocks is the difficulty of conducting placebo-controlled studies. For these studies to be valid, researchers need to ensure that neither the patients nor the assessors know who received the actual treatment and who received a placebo. However, this is complicated by the fact that nerve blocks often cause noticeable numbness or weakness, making it easy to identify who received the real treatment.
Researchers are exploring the possibility of using very low doses of anesthetic that might provide pain relief without causing noticeable numbness or weakness. If successful, this approach could allow for proper "blinded" studies where neither patients nor researchers can tell who received the actual treatment.
In summary, while nerve blocks play an important role in pain medicine, more research is needed to confirm their effectiveness. Finding ways to conduct proper placebo-controlled studies is crucial for ensuring that these treatments truly benefit patients.
- Conditions
- Healthy
- Being tested
- Ropivacaine 0,1%, NaCl (placebo)
- Keywords
- Peripheral nerve blocks, Placebo-controlled studies, Blinding in clinical trials
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Ropivacaine 0,1%Drug
The study uses ropivacaine for nerve blocks, starting at 0.1% concentration and capped at 0.5% for safety. Concentration adjustments are made based on each participant's response 60 minutes post-injection:
- Increase by 0.025% if pain reduction is <50%
- Increase by 0.025% if reduction is 50-75% without sensory/motor block
- Decrease by 0.025% if reduction is 50-75% with sensory/motor block
- Decrease by 0.025% if reduction is >75%. Pain is assessed using a Numerical Rating Scale. The study employs Dixon's up-and-down method for five cycles to determine the optimal concentration for effective pain relief without significant numbness or weakness.
NaCl (placebo)Other
0.9 % NaCl solution (saline) injection
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Ropivacaine-Placebo Arm | Other | Participants will first receive a nerve block with ropivacaine, starting at 0.1% concentration and adjusted according to Dixon's up-and-down method as described in the intervention section. Pain sensitivity and presence of sensory or motor block will be assessed 60 minutes post-injection using a Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). After a washout period, participants will cross over to receive a placebo (saline) injection, followed by the same assessments. Receives: Drug: Ropivacaine 0,1%; Other: NaCl (placebo) |
| Placebo-Ropivacaine Arm | Other | Participants will first receive a placebo (saline) nerve block injection. Pain sensitivity and any reported sensory or motor changes will be assessed 60 minutes post-injection using a Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). After a washout period, participants will cross over to receive the ropivacaine injection, with concentration determined by Dixon's up-and-down method as described in the intervention section, followed by the same assessments. Receives: Drug: Ropivacaine 0,1%; Other: NaCl (placebo) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Heat pain sensitivity
Participants will rate their pain in response to heat stimulation using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). On this scale, 0 represents no pain at all, while 100 represents the worst pain imaginable.
Measured: Heat pain sensitivity will be determined before (baseline), and every 5 minutes up to 60 minutes after injection.
Self-report of sensory block
Participants will be asked to self-report any sensory changes by responding to the question: "Do you feel any numbness in the forearm or hand on the side where the injection was given?" They will be required to answer either "yes" or "no" to this question.
Measured: Self-report of sensory block will be assessed 30 and 60 minutes after injections.
Self-report of motor block
Participants will be asked to self-report any motor changes by responding to the question: "Do you feel any reduction of strength of your hand on the injection side?" They will be required to answer either "yes" or "no" to this question.
Measured: Self-report of motor block will be assessed 30 and 60 minutes after injections.
Secondary outcomes (5)
Evaluation of the C-fiber block
C-fibers will be evaluated by measuring electrodermal activity, specifically continuous skin conductance level and phasic heat-induced sympathetic skin response (SSR). These measurements will be taken in the innervation area of the ulnar nerve, specifically at the digitus minimus of the non-dominant hand, using Ag/AgCl electrodes filled with a skin conductance electrode paste. Phasic sympathetic skin response will be induced by applying five heat stimuli ranging from 42 to 52°C to the contralateral volar forearm. Electrodermal activity will be recorded using LabChart data acquisition software and PowerLab hardware. Participants will be instructed to relax and lie quietly in a supine position, with the ambient temperature maintained between 22-24°C. Continuous skin conductance level measurements will begin at baseline and continue throughout the injection until the signal disappears, at which point the time to signal disappearance will be recorded.
Measured: Measurement will be done at baseline, 30 and 60 minutes after injection.
Evaluation of the A-delta fiber block
To evaluate the block of the A-delta fibers of the ulnar nerve, five heat stimuli will be applied within the innervation area of the ulnar nerve (same as for heat pain sensitivity described above) and the phasic heat-induced sympathetic skin response from the contralateral palm will be recorded.
Measured: Measurement will be done at baseline, 30 and 60 minutes after the injection.
Evaluation of the A-beta fiber block
The function of A-beta fibers will be tested using ulnar somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs). Measurements will be conducted while participants are in a supine position, following the guidelines of the German Society for Clinical Electrophysiology and Medical Imaging. Electrical stimulation of the ulnar nerve at the hypothenar eminence of the non-dominant hand will be applied using the Dantec Keypoint® 4 System through self-adhesive surface electrodes. The stimulation intensity will be set at four times the electrical perception threshold, with a frequency of 3.1 Hz and a pulse width of 0.2 milliseconds. SSEPs will be recorded by the same system through needle electrodes placed over Fz (as reference) and C3'/C4', according to the international 10-20 EEG electrode positioning system. Signals will be recorded at a frequency of 12 kHz and band-pass filtered between 500 Hz and 1 kHz, with N20 latencies and amplitudes of the N20/P25 complex manually detected.
Measured: Measurement will be done at baseline, 30 and 60 minutes after the injection.
Evaluation of the A-alpha fiber block (motor block)
Motor block of the ulnar nerve will be evaluated using motor nerve conduction studies performed according to clinical standards (see Neurophysiology Manual used within EMSCI, ww.emsci.org). Compound motor action potentials (cMAP) of the abductor digitimi minimi (ADM) muscles will be recorded with surface electrodes (Ambu® BlueSensor NF, Ballerup, Denmark) with the active electrode placed over the motor point of the ADM and the reference electrode at the base of the fourth digit. cMAPs will be recorded with a sampling rate of 2000Hz and a bandpass filter of 5Hz-10kHz using the Dantec Keypoint® 4 System (Natus Medical Incorporated, San Carlos, CA, USA). The ulnar nerve at the proximal arm will be stimulated with a stimulation intensity of supramaximal level (1-100mA) and a constant current rectangular stimulation pulse of 0.2ms pulse width
Measured: Measurement will be done at baseline, 30 and 60 minutes after the injection.
Offset analgesia
The evaluation of offset analgesia will follow published paradigms16,17 where a disproportionally large reduction in perceived pain following a slight decrease in painful stimulus intensity will be recorded. We will use a surface contact heat stimulator (PATHWAY Pain \& Sensory Evaluation System, Medoc, Ramat Yishai, Israel) with the ATS thermode (30x30mm). We will attach the thermode to hypothenar eminence and ramped up from 35° to 47°C, then held for 5s at 47°C, increased to 48°C for 5s and decreased again to 47°C for 20s. We will use a computerized visual analogue scale (CoVAS, Medoc, Ramat Yishai, Israel) to get concomitant pain ratings during the paradigm.
Measured: Measurement will be done at 60 minutes after the injection.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted31 Oct 2024
- Study start11 Dec 2024
- Primary completion31 Oct 2025
- Study completion31 Oct 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (10)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for HealthyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 17 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Balgrist University Hospital
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Hagen Bomberg, Medical Doctor, Principal investigator, Deputy Head of Anesthesiology
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06668116
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2024-01431
- Status last verified
- Nov 2025
- First submitted
- 30 Oct 2024
- Last updated
- 28 Nov 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Publications
Curatolo M, Petersen-Felix S, Arendt-Nielsen L. Sensory assessment of regional analgesia in humans: a review of methods and applications. Anesthesiology. 2000 Dec;93(6):1517-30. doi: 10.1097/00000542-200012000-00025. No abstract available.
PubMed 11149448Sveticic G, Gentilini A, Eichenberger U, Zanderigo E, Sartori V, Luginbuhl M, Curatolo M. Combinations of bupivacaine, fentanyl, and clonidine for lumbar epidural postoperative analgesia: a novel optimization procedure. Anesthesiology. 2004 Dec;101(6):1381-93. doi: 10.1097/00000542-200412000-00019.
PubMed 15564946Curatolo M, Kaufmann R, Petersen-Felix S, Arendt-Nielsen L, Scaramozzino P, Zbinden AM. Block of pinprick and cold sensation poorly correlate with relief of postoperative pain during epidural analgesia. Clin J Pain. 1999 Mar;15(1):6-12. doi: 10.1097/00002508-199903000-00003.
PubMed 10206562Vadhanan P, Tripaty DK, Adinarayanan S. Physiological and pharmacologic aspects of peripheral nerve blocks. J Anaesthesiol Clin Pharmacol. 2015 Jul-Sep;31(3):384-93. doi: 10.4103/0970-9185.161679.
PubMed 26330722Curatolo M, Schnider TW, Petersen-Felix S, Weiss S, Signer C, Scaramozzino P, Zbinden AM. A direct search procedure to optimize combinations of epidural bupivacaine, fentanyl, and clonidine for postoperative analgesia. Anesthesiology. 2000 Feb;92(2):325-37. doi: 10.1097/00000542-200002000-00012.
PubMed 10691217Inan LE, Inan N, Karadas O, Gul HL, Erdemoglu AK, Turkel Y, Akyol A. Greater occipital nerve blockade for the treatment of chronic migraine: a randomized, multicenter, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study. Acta Neurol Scand. 2015 Oct;132(4):270-7. doi: 10.1111/ane.12393. Epub 2015 Mar 13.
PubMed 25765043Dahan TH, Fortin L, Pelletier M, Petit M, Vadeboncoeur R, Suissa S. Double blind randomized clinical trial examining the efficacy of bupivacaine suprascapular nerve blocks in frozen shoulder. J Rheumatol. 2000 Jun;27(6):1464-9.
PubMed 10852272Adey-Wakeling Z, Crotty M, Shanahan EM. Suprascapular nerve block for shoulder pain in the first year after stroke: a randomized controlled trial. Stroke. 2013 Nov;44(11):3136-41. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.113.002471. Epub 2013 Aug 22.
PubMed 23970790Lord SM, Barnsley L, Bogduk N. The utility of comparative local anesthetic blocks versus placebo-controlled blocks for the diagnosis of cervical zygapophysial joint pain. Clin J Pain. 1995 Sep;11(3):208-13. doi: 10.1097/00002508-199509000-00008.
PubMed 8535040Engel A, MacVicar J, Bogduk N. A philosophical foundation for diagnostic blocks, with criteria for their validation. Pain Med. 2014 Jun;15(6):998-1006. doi: 10.1111/pme.12436. Epub 2014 Apr 9.
PubMed 24716821
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 28 Nov 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Impact of Local Anesthetic Dilution on the Possibility of Blinding Studies Involving Peripheral Nerve Blocks. A Randomized, Prospective, Monocentric Study on Volunteers
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06668116
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2024-01431
- Conditions
- Healthy
- Keywords
- Peripheral nerve blocks, Placebo-controlled studies, Blinding in clinical trials
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 17 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Balgrist University HospitalUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 11 Dec 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Oct 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 31 Oct 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 31 Oct 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study aims to determine the appropriate dosage of a placebo anesthetic to enable future placebo-controlled studies that can more accurately examine the effects of nerve blocks. The main challenge in conducting such studies is the difficulty in blinding participants and researchers due to the noticeable effects of nerve blocks, such as numbness and motor impairments.
The goal is to find a placebo solution that can:
- Mimic the sensations of a real nerve block
- Not provide actual pain relief
- Allow for effective blinding in future studies
By developing an appropriate placebo, researchers hope to:
- Enable more rigorous investigations into the efficacy of nerve blocks for pain management
- Conduct comprehensive placebo-controlled studies, which are currently lacking in the field
- Overcome the obstacle of ensuring successful blinding in nerve block research This study is focused to establish a methodology for creating a convincing placebo that can be used in future research to more accurately assess the true effects of nerve blocks in pain medicine.
Detailed description
Nerve blocks are medical procedures commonly used in pain management for three main purposes: diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. For diagnostic nerve blocks, the goal is to identify the source of pain. The underlying idea is straightforward: if numbing a specific nerve stops the pain, that nerve is likely the source of the problem. Conversely, if the pain persists after the nerve is numbed, it suggests that the issue lies elsewhere.
Prognostic nerve blocks serve a different function; they are used to test whether a future treatment might be successful. If a temporary nerve block alleviates pain, it indicates that a more permanent treatment targeting that nerve could be effective. Therapeutic nerve blocks aim to provide long-lasting pain relief, helping patients engage in physical therapy or acting as a treatment on their own.
Despite their widespread use, there is insufficient solid scientific evidence to fully support the effectiveness of nerve blocks. Most studies conducted so far rely on observational data rather than controlled experiments. This lack of robust evidence raises concerns because diagnostic and prognostic blocks may lead to incorrect diagnoses or ineffective treatments. Additionally, therapeutic blocks can be invasive and costly, yet their effectiveness is not always guaranteed.
One significant challenge in researching nerve blocks is the difficulty of conducting placebo-controlled studies. For these studies to be valid, researchers need to ensure that neither the patients nor the assessors know who received the actual treatment and who received a placebo. However, this is complicated by the fact that nerve blocks often cause noticeable numbness or weakness, making it easy to identify who received the real treatment.
Researchers are exploring the possibility of using very low doses of anesthetic that might provide pain relief without causing noticeable numbness or weakness. If successful, this approach could allow for proper "blinded" studies where neither patients nor researchers can tell who received the actual treatment.
In summary, while nerve blocks play an important role in pain medicine, more research is needed to confirm their effectiveness. Finding ways to conduct proper placebo-controlled studies is crucial for ensuring that these treatments truly benefit patients.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, investigator)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Ropivacaine-Placebo Arm | Other | Drug: Ropivacaine 0,1%, Other: NaCl (placebo)Participants will first receive a nerve block with ropivacaine, starting at 0.1% concentration and adjusted according to Dixon's up-and-down method as described in the intervention section. Pain sensitivity and presence of sensory or motor block will be assessed 60 minutes post-injection using a Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). After a washout period, participants will cross over to receive a placebo (saline) injection, followed by the same assessments. |
| Placebo-Ropivacaine Arm | Other | Drug: Ropivacaine 0,1%, Other: NaCl (placebo)Participants will first receive a placebo (saline) nerve block injection. Pain sensitivity and any reported sensory or motor changes will be assessed 60 minutes post-injection using a Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). After a washout period, participants will cross over to receive the ropivacaine injection, with concentration determined by Dixon's up-and-down method as described in the intervention section, followed by the same assessments. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- ASA I - II, both sexes
- ≥ 18 years old
- < 65 years old
- Written informed consent as documented by signature
Key exclusion criteria (12 listed)
- Known allergy or hypersensitivity to a ropivacaine, amide local anesthetics or ultrasound gel
- Any history of chronic or acute pain at the moment of enrollment into the study
- Treatment with any substance having a relation to pain or pain modulation (antidepressants, opioids, benzodiazepines, anticonvulsants)
- Intake of any analgesic 48 hours prior to the conduction of any of the study stages
- Severe coagulopathy
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Ropivacaine 0,1%The study uses ropivacaine for nerve blocks, starting at 0.1% concentration and capped at 0.5% for safety. Concentration adjustments are made based on each participant's response 60 minutes post-injection: * Increase by 0.025% if pain reduction is <50% * Increase by 0.025% if reduction is 50-75% without sensory/motor block * Decrease by 0.025% if reduction is 50-75% with sensory/motor block * Decrease by 0.025% if reduction is >75%. Pain is assessed using a Numerical Rating Scale. The study employs Dixon's up-and-down method for five cycles to determine the optimal concentration for effective pain relief without significant numbness or weakness. | Drug | Placebo-Ropivacaine Arm, Ropivacaine-Placebo Arm |
| NaCl (placebo)0.9 % NaCl solution (saline) injection | Other | Placebo-Ropivacaine Arm, Ropivacaine-Placebo Arm |
Primary outcome
Heat pain sensitivity
Time frame: Heat pain sensitivity will be determined before (baseline), and every 5 minutes up to 60 minutes after injection.
Participants will rate their pain in response to heat stimulation using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS). On this scale, 0 represents no pain at all, while 100 represents the worst pain imaginable.
Self-report of sensory block
Time frame: Self-report of sensory block will be assessed 30 and 60 minutes after injections.
Participants will be asked to self-report any sensory changes by responding to the question: "Do you feel any numbness in the forearm or hand on the side where the injection was given?" They will be required to answer either "yes" or "no" to this question.
Self-report of motor block
Time frame: Self-report of motor block will be assessed 30 and 60 minutes after injections.
Participants will be asked to self-report any motor changes by responding to the question: "Do you feel any reduction of strength of your hand on the injection side?" They will be required to answer either "yes" or "no" to this question.
5 secondary outcomes
Evaluation of the C-fiber block
Time frame: Measurement will be done at baseline, 30 and 60 minutes after injection.
Evaluation of the A-delta fiber block
Time frame: Measurement will be done at baseline, 30 and 60 minutes after the injection.
Evaluation of the A-beta fiber block
Time frame: Measurement will be done at baseline, 30 and 60 minutes after the injection.
Evaluation of the A-alpha fiber block (motor block)
Time frame: Measurement will be done at baseline, 30 and 60 minutes after the injection.
Offset analgesia
Time frame: Measurement will be done at 60 minutes after the injection.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 28 Nov 2025.
- Background: PubMed 11149448Curatolo M, Petersen-Felix S, Arendt-Nielsen L. Sensory assessment of regional analgesia in humans: a review of methods and applications. Anesthesiology. 2000 Dec;93(6):1517-30. doi: 10.1097/00000542-200012000-00025. No abstract available.
- Background: PubMed 15564946Sveticic G, Gentilini A, Eichenberger U, Zanderigo E, Sartori V, Luginbuhl M, Curatolo M. Combinations of bupivacaine, fentanyl, and clonidine for lumbar epidural postoperative analgesia: a novel optimization procedure. Anesthesiology. 2004 Dec;101(6):1381-93. doi: 10.1097/00000542-200412000-00019.
- Background: PubMed 10206562Curatolo M, Kaufmann R, Petersen-Felix S, Arendt-Nielsen L, Scaramozzino P, Zbinden AM. Block of pinprick and cold sensation poorly correlate with relief of postoperative pain during epidural analgesia. Clin J Pain. 1999 Mar;15(1):6-12. doi: 10.1097/00002508-199903000-00003.
- Background: PubMed 26330722Vadhanan P, Tripaty DK, Adinarayanan S. Physiological and pharmacologic aspects of peripheral nerve blocks. J Anaesthesiol Clin Pharmacol. 2015 Jul-Sep;31(3):384-93. doi: 10.4103/0970-9185.161679.
- Background: PubMed 10691217Curatolo M, Schnider TW, Petersen-Felix S, Weiss S, Signer C, Scaramozzino P, Zbinden AM. A direct search procedure to optimize combinations of epidural bupivacaine, fentanyl, and clonidine for postoperative analgesia. Anesthesiology. 2000 Feb;92(2):325-37. doi: 10.1097/00000542-200002000-00012.
- Background: PubMed 25765043Inan LE, Inan N, Karadas O, Gul HL, Erdemoglu AK, Turkel Y, Akyol A. Greater occipital nerve blockade for the treatment of chronic migraine: a randomized, multicenter, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study. Acta Neurol Scand. 2015 Oct;132(4):270-7. doi: 10.1111/ane.12393. Epub 2015 Mar 13.
- Background: PubMed 10852272Dahan TH, Fortin L, Pelletier M, Petit M, Vadeboncoeur R, Suissa S. Double blind randomized clinical trial examining the efficacy of bupivacaine suprascapular nerve blocks in frozen shoulder. J Rheumatol. 2000 Jun;27(6):1464-9.
- Background: PubMed 23970790Adey-Wakeling Z, Crotty M, Shanahan EM. Suprascapular nerve block for shoulder pain in the first year after stroke: a randomized controlled trial. Stroke. 2013 Nov;44(11):3136-41. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.113.002471. Epub 2013 Aug 22.
- Background: PubMed 8535040Lord SM, Barnsley L, Bogduk N. The utility of comparative local anesthetic blocks versus placebo-controlled blocks for the diagnosis of cervical zygapophysial joint pain. Clin J Pain. 1995 Sep;11(3):208-13. doi: 10.1097/00002508-199509000-00008.
- Background: PubMed 24716821Engel A, MacVicar J, Bogduk N. A philosophical foundation for diagnostic blocks, with criteria for their validation. Pain Med. 2014 Jun;15(6):998-1006. doi: 10.1111/pme.12436. Epub 2014 Apr 9.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Hagen Bomberg, Medical Doctor principal investigator
Deputy Head of Anesthesiology
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Ropivacaine 0,1% in people with Healthy, run by Balgrist University Hospital at 1 site in Switzerland.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 12 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 28 Nov 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Switzerland. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Heat pain sensitivity (time frame: Heat pain sensitivity will be determined before (baseline), and every 5 minutes up to 60 minutes after injection.). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06668116, which also lists 10 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 28 Nov 2025.