Postoperative PainPhase 3NCT07847047
Safety and Efficacy of Dexamethasone Versus Dexmedetomidine as Adjuvants in PENG Block in Hip Surgeries for Postoperative Pain Management
A Phase 3 study testing Bupivacaine 0.25%, Dexamethasone and Dexmedetomidine in people with Postoperative Pain and Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA), run by Assiut University.
Trial summary
This study evaluates and compares the analgesic efficacy and safety of adding dexamethasone versus dexmedetomidine to bupivacaine in an ultrasound-guided pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block combined with a lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) block in patients undergoing elective total hip replacement under spinal… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 60 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Postoperative Pain, Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA)
- What is being tested?
- Bupivacaine 0.25%, Dexamethasone and Dexmedetomidine
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 90 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- Oct 2026to Nov 2027
- Phase
- Phase 3
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 60 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Patients aged 18 to 60 years.
- American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status class I or II.
- Scheduled for elective unilateral total hip replacement under spinal anesthesia.
Who cannot join
- Patient refusal of the peripheral nerve block.
- Infection at the site of injection.
- Coagulopathy or contraindication to spinal anesthesia.
- Known allergy or hypersensitivity to any of the study medications.
- Baseline bradycardia or significant cardiac conduction abnormality.
- Chronic opioid use or pre-existing chronic pain on regular analgesics.
- Patients unable to communicate or reliably express pain scores.
About this study
Official title: Safety and Efficacy of Dexamethasone Versus Dexmedetomidine as Adjuvants in Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) Block in Hip Surgeries for Postoperative Pain Management
This study evaluates and compares the analgesic efficacy and safety of adding dexamethasone versus dexmedetomidine to bupivacaine in an ultrasound-guided pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block combined with a lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) block in patients undergoing elective total hip replacement under spinal anesthesia.
Total hip replacement is associated with substantial acute postoperative pain. The PENG block targets sensory articular branches supplying the hip while preserving quadriceps muscle strength, facilitating early postoperative ambulation. Supplementation with an LFCN block expands sensory coverage to the lateral surgical incision. Adding perineural adjuvants, such as dexamethasone or dexmedetomidine, to local anesthetics may prolong sensory block duration and reduce opioid requirements.
Read more
A total of 90 adult participants aged 18 to 60 years will be randomly assigned to one of three equal groups (30 patients each):
- Group C (Control): Receives a PENG block with 20 mL of plain bupivacaine 0.25%.
- Group DX: Receives a PENG block with 20 mL of bupivacaine 0.25% combined with dexamethasone 4 mg.
- Group DM: Receives a PENG block with 20 mL of bupivacaine 0.25% combined with dexmedetomidine 1 µg/kg.
All participants across all groups will receive an LFCN block with 5 mL of plain bupivacaine 0.25% without adjuvants.
The primary outcome is the time to the first request for rescue analgesia (duration of postoperative analgesia). Secondary outcomes include total morphine consumption over the first 24 hours, pain intensity measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), intraoperative and postoperative hemodynamic stability, sedation levels, quality of recovery assessed at 24 hours via the Quality of Recovery-15 (QoR-15) questionnaire, and the incidence of any adverse effects or block-related complications.
- Conditions
- Postoperative Pain, Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA)
- Being tested
- Bupivacaine 0.25%, Dexamethasone, Dexmedetomidine
- Keywords
- PENG block, Pericapsular nerve group block, Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block, Dexamethasone, Dexmedetomidine, Bupivacaine, Regional anesthesia, Postoperative analgesia
- Medical subject headings
- Pain, Postoperative
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Bupivacaine 0.25%Drug
Plain bupivacaine 0.25% (20 mL) administered perineurally via ultrasound-guided Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) block, along with plain bupivacaine 0.25% (5 mL) for Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve (LFCN) block without adjuvant.
DexamethasoneDrug
Perineural dexamethasone 4 mg combined with bupivacaine 0.25% to an identical total volume of 20 mL, administered via ultrasound-guided Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) block, along with plain bupivacaine 0.25% (5 mL) for LFCN block.
DexmedetomidineDrug
Perineural dexmedetomidine 1 µg/kg combined with bupivacaine 0.25% to an identical total volume of 20 mL, administered via ultrasound-guided Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) block, along with plain bupivacaine 0.25% (5 mL) for LFCN block.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Group C (Control) | Active comparator | Participants receive an ultrasound-guided Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) block using 20 mL of plain bupivacaine 0.25% alone, followed by a lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) block using 5 mL of plain bupivacaine 0.25% without adjuvant. Receives: Drug: Bupivacaine 0.25% |
| Group DX (Dexamethasone) | Experimental | Participants receive an ultrasound-guided Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) block using bupivacaine 0.25% with dexamethasone 4 mg added (total volume 20 mL), followed by an LFCN block using 5 mL of plain bupivacaine 0.25% without adjuvant. Receives: Drug: Bupivacaine 0.25%; Drug: Dexamethasone |
| Group DM (Dexmedetomidine) | Experimental | Participants receive an ultrasound-guided Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) block using bupivacaine 0.25% with dexmedetomidine 1 µg/kg added (total volume 20 mL), followed by an LFCN block using 5 mL of plain bupivacaine 0.25% without adjuvant. Receives: Drug: Bupivacaine 0.25%; Drug: Dexmedetomidine |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Time to First Request for Rescue Analgesia (Hours)
Duration of postoperative analgesia in hours, measured from the completion of the nerve block to the patient's first request for rescue analgesia (intravenous morphine PCA triggered for VAS score of 3 or greater). If a patient does not request analgesia within the observation period, data will be censored at 24 hours.
Measured: Up to 24 hours postoperatively
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted29 Sep 2026
- Study startOct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionOct 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionNov 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Postoperative PainStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Assiut UniversityThe 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 3
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Quadruple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 90 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Assiut University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Mohamed Esameldin Ghanem Ahmed, Assiut University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07847047
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Adjuvants in Hip PENG Block
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 23 Sep 2026
- Last updated
- 29 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 29 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Safety and Efficacy of Dexamethasone Versus Dexmedetomidine as Adjuvants in Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) Block in Hip Surgeries for Postoperative Pain Management
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07847047
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Adjuvants in Hip PENG Block
- Conditions
- Postoperative Pain, Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA)
- Keywords
- PENG block, Pericapsular nerve group block, Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block, Dexamethasone, Dexmedetomidine, Bupivacaine, Regional anesthesia, Postoperative analgesia
- Phase
- Phase 3
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 90 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Assiut UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Oct 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Nov 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 29 Sep 2026 (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 evaluates and compares the analgesic efficacy and safety of adding dexamethasone versus dexmedetomidine to bupivacaine in an ultrasound-guided pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block combined with a lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) block in patients undergoing elective total hip replacement under spinal anesthesia.
Total hip replacement is associated with substantial acute postoperative pain. The PENG block targets sensory articular branches supplying the hip while preserving quadriceps muscle strength, facilitating early postoperative ambulation. Supplementation with an LFCN block expands sensory coverage to the lateral surgical incision. Adding perineural adjuvants, such as dexamethasone or dexmedetomidine, to local anesthetics may prolong sensory block duration and reduce opioid requirements.
A total of 90 adult participants aged 18 to 60 years will be randomly assigned to one of three equal groups (30 patients each):
- Group C (Control): Receives a PENG block with 20 mL of plain bupivacaine 0.25%.
- Group DX: Receives a PENG block with 20 mL of bupivacaine 0.25% combined with dexamethasone 4 mg.
- Group DM: Receives a PENG block with 20 mL of bupivacaine 0.25% combined with dexmedetomidine 1 µg/kg.
All participants across all groups will receive an LFCN block with 5 mL of plain bupivacaine 0.25% without adjuvants.
The primary outcome is the time to the first request for rescue analgesia (duration of postoperative analgesia). Secondary outcomes include total morphine consumption over the first 24 hours, pain intensity measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), intraoperative and postoperative hemodynamic stability, sedation levels, quality of recovery assessed at 24 hours via the Quality of Recovery-15 (QoR-15) questionnaire, and the incidence of any adverse effects or block-related complications.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Quadruple blind (participant, care provider, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Group C (Control) | Active comparator | Drug: Bupivacaine 0.25%Participants receive an ultrasound-guided Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) block using 20 mL of plain bupivacaine 0.25% alone, followed by a lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) block using 5 mL of plain bupivacaine 0.25% without adjuvant. |
| Group DX (Dexamethasone) | Experimental | Drug: Bupivacaine 0.25%, Drug: DexamethasoneParticipants receive an ultrasound-guided Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) block using bupivacaine 0.25% with dexamethasone 4 mg added (total volume 20 mL), followed by an LFCN block using 5 mL of plain bupivacaine 0.25% without adjuvant. |
| Group DM (Dexmedetomidine) | Experimental | Drug: Bupivacaine 0.25%, Drug: DexmedetomidineParticipants receive an ultrasound-guided Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) block using bupivacaine 0.25% with dexmedetomidine 1 µg/kg added (total volume 20 mL), followed by an LFCN block using 5 mL of plain bupivacaine 0.25% without adjuvant. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 60 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Patients aged 18 to 60 years.
- American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status class I or II.
- Scheduled for elective unilateral total hip replacement under spinal anesthesia.
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Patient refusal of the peripheral nerve block.
- Infection at the site of injection.
- Coagulopathy or contraindication to spinal anesthesia.
- Known allergy or hypersensitivity to any of the study medications.
- Baseline bradycardia or significant cardiac conduction abnormality.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bupivacaine 0.25%Plain bupivacaine 0.25% (20 mL) administered perineurally via ultrasound-guided Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) block, along with plain bupivacaine 0.25% (5 mL) for Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve (LFCN) block without adjuvant. | Drug | Group C (Control), Group DM (Dexmedetomidine), Group DX (Dexamethasone) |
| DexamethasonePerineural dexamethasone 4 mg combined with bupivacaine 0.25% to an identical total volume of 20 mL, administered via ultrasound-guided Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) block, along with plain bupivacaine 0.25% (5 mL) for LFCN block. | Drug | Group DX (Dexamethasone) |
| DexmedetomidinePerineural dexmedetomidine 1 µg/kg combined with bupivacaine 0.25% to an identical total volume of 20 mL, administered via ultrasound-guided Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) block, along with plain bupivacaine 0.25% (5 mL) for LFCN block. | Drug | Group DM (Dexmedetomidine) |
Primary outcome
Time to First Request for Rescue Analgesia (Hours)
Time frame: Up to 24 hours postoperatively
Duration of postoperative analgesia in hours, measured from the completion of the nerve block to the patient's first request for rescue analgesia (intravenous morphine PCA triggered for VAS score of 3 or greater). If a patient does not request analgesia within the observation period, data will be censored at 24 hours.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 29 Sep 2026.
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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.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 3 study testing Bupivacaine 0.25%, Dexamethasone and Dexmedetomidine in people with Postoperative Pain and Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA), run by Assiut University.
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 3 inclusion and 7 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
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.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
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?
Time to First Request for Rescue Analgesia (Hours) (time frame: Up to 24 hours postoperatively). 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 29 Sep 2026.