Knee PainNCT07158736
Genicular Nerve Block for Knee Pain in the ED
A study testing Genicular nerve block with bupivacaine and corticosteroids in people with Knee Pain, run by University of Pennsylvania at 4 sites in United States.
Trial summary
Patient with atraumatic knee pain without a large knee effusion on x-ray will be randomized to receive either a genicular nerve block (GNB) or standard of care in the emergency department. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Knee Pain
- What is being tested?
- Genicular nerve block with bupivacaine and corticosteroids
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 8 participants
- Where
- 4 sitesUnited States
- Study dates
- 6 Aug 2025to 8 Apr 2026
- 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 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Atraumatic knee pain
- >17 years age
- X-ray of the knee obtained in the ED
- Initial pain score (numeric rating scale) 5-10
Who cannot join
- Fracture or dislocation on x-ray
- large knee joint effusion identified on x-ray
- allergy or contraindication to local anesthetics
- History of local anesthetic systemic toxicity after receiving local anesthetics
- Pregnancy
- Incarcerated
Show all 11Show fewer
- History of knee replacement of affected knee
- Concern for septic joint
- Overlying cellulitis
- Hemodynamic instability
- Altered mental status or inability to consent for procedure.
Trial locations and contacts
4 sites in 1 country.
United States4 sites
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104
Pennsylvania Hospital
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104
Pennsylvania Presbyterian Medical Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104
HUP Cedar
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19143
About this study
Official title: Ultrasound-Guided Genicular Nerve Block for Knee Pain in the Emergency Department: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Patient with atraumatic knee pain without a large knee effusion on x-ray will be randomized to receive either a genicular nerve block (GNB) or standard of care in the emergency department.
- Conditions
- Knee Pain
- Being tested
- Genicular nerve block with bupivacaine and corticosteroids, Standard of Care
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Genicular nerve block with bupivacaine and corticosteroidsProcedure or surgery
genicular nerve block with ideal body-weight dosing of bupivacaine 0.5% with 4 mg dexamethasone
Standard of CareOther
This involves standard of care pain relief for patients who do not receive the genicular nerve block for knee pain, such as acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and opioids.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Genicular Nerve Block | Experimental | This arm of patients (17 total) will receive the genicular nerve block for their knee pain. Receives: Procedure: Genicular nerve block with bupivacaine and corticosteroids |
| Standard of Care | Active comparator | This arm of patients (17 total) will receive standard of care analgesia for their knee pain Receives: Other: Standard of Care |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Pain level
Measured by numeric rating scale: 0 (minimum value) - 10 (maximum value)
Measured: 1 hour post-enrollment
Secondary outcomes (3)
Difference in Duration of Analgesia
Patients will be called back to assess their pain levels
Measured: 24 hours
Difference in AP-POQ-RED score
9 question survey study, all questions rated on 0 (minimum) - 10 (maximum) scale. Questions include: pain before and after treatment, pain with activities in and out of bed, emotions (anxiety, fear, helplessness), degree of pain relief in the emergency department, satisfaction.
Measured: 1 hour after enrollment
Difference in length of stay in the emergency department
Length of stay in the emergency department is determined from the time the provider first sees the patient to the time the provider discharges the patient.
Measured: Average 1 hour
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted8 Sep 2025
- Study start6 Aug 2025
- Primary completion8 Apr 2026
- Study completion8 Apr 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Knee PainStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of PennsylvaniaThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- 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
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 8 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Pennsylvania
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Michael M Shalaby, MD, Principal investigator, University of Pennsylvania
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07158736
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IRB Protocol #858259
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 17 Jul 2025
- Last updated
- 2 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 2 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Ultrasound-Guided Genicular Nerve Block for Knee Pain in the Emergency Department: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07158736
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- IRB Protocol #858259
- Conditions
- Knee Pain
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 8 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of PennsylvaniaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 6 Aug 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 8 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 8 Apr 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 8 Sep 2025 (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.
Patient with atraumatic knee pain without a large knee effusion on x-ray will be randomized to receive either a genicular nerve block (GNB) or standard of care in the emergency department.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Genicular Nerve Block | Experimental | Procedure: Genicular nerve block with bupivacaine and corticosteroidsThis arm of patients (17 total) will receive the genicular nerve block for their knee pain. |
| Standard of Care | Active comparator | Other: Standard of CareThis arm of patients (17 total) will receive standard of care analgesia for their knee pain |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Atraumatic knee pain
- >17 years age
- X-ray of the knee obtained in the ED
- Initial pain score (numeric rating scale) 5-10
Key exclusion criteria (11 listed)
- Fracture or dislocation on x-ray
- large knee joint effusion identified on x-ray
- allergy or contraindication to local anesthetics
- History of local anesthetic systemic toxicity after receiving local anesthetics
- Pregnancy
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Genicular nerve block with bupivacaine and corticosteroidsgenicular nerve block with ideal body-weight dosing of bupivacaine 0.5% with 4 mg dexamethasone | Procedure or surgery | Genicular Nerve Block |
| Standard of CareThis involves standard of care pain relief for patients who do not receive the genicular nerve block for knee pain, such as acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and opioids. | Other | Standard of Care |
Primary outcome
Pain level
Time frame: 1 hour post-enrollment
Measured by numeric rating scale: 0 (minimum value) - 10 (maximum value)
3 secondary outcomes
Difference in Duration of Analgesia
Time frame: 24 hours
Difference in AP-POQ-RED score
Time frame: 1 hour after enrollment
Difference in length of stay in the emergency department
Time frame: Average 1 hour
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 2 Oct 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Knee Pain
Recruiting
Effects of Telerehabilitation Versus Supervised Rehabilitation Protocol on Pain, Range of Motion and Functional Recovery in Patients With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome.
Patello Femoral Pain Syndrome
RecruitingPhase 3
A Study to Learn About Study Medicine Called Berobenatide in Adults With Knee Pain and Overweight or Obesity (VESPER-OA 1)
Obesity, Overweight
Recruiting
BioPoly® Partial Resurfacing Knee Implant IDE
Knee Pain Chronic, Knee Osteoarthritis
RecruitingPhase 2
A Master Protocol Study (LY900028) of Multiple Intervention-Specific-Appendices (ISAs) in Participants With Chronic Pain
Osteoarthritis, Knee, Diabetic Neuropathic Pain
RecruitingObservational study
MRI Study of Musculoskeletal Function
Abnormalities, Imaging
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.
Michael M Shalaby, MD principal investigator
University of Pennsylvania
4 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Genicular nerve block with bupivacaine and corticosteroids in people with Knee Pain, run by University of Pennsylvania at 4 sites in United States.
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 11 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 2 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 4 sites in United States. 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?
Pain level (time frame: 1 hour post-enrollment). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 2 Oct 2026.