Recruiting

Nerve Blocks

Sponsor:

Hospital for Special Surgery, New York

Code:

NCT06590402

Conditions

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 8 - 18

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Interventions

Bupivacaine, Dexamethasone in Adductor Canal Block

Bupivacaine, Dexamethasone in Anterior Femoral Cutaneous Nerve Block

Study Details

Brief summary:

The goal of this pilot clinical trial is to compare anterior femoral cutaneous nerve block (AFCN) to adductor canal block ACB) for pediatric patients undergoing either anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL). The aims of this trial are:

  • To measure postoperative functional outcomes in patients who received AFCNB vs. ACB.
  • To calculate postoperative opioid requirements in pediatric knee surgeries that received AFCNB vs. ACB.
  • To calculate pain intensity levels at rest and with ambulation in patients who received AFCNB vs. ACB.
  • To quantify sensory deficits in patients who received AFCNB vs. ACB.
  • To assess patient-reported outcome measures (e.g., pain expectation scale, pain management satisfaction, PROMIS Pediatric Short Form v1.0 - Physical Activity, PROMIS Scale v1.2 - Global Health) in patients 8-18 years of age who received AFCNB vs. ACB.

Subjects undergoing ACL procedures will be compared between those who received the adductor canal block to those who received the anterior femoral cutaneous nerve block. The researchers will also compare individuals who underwent MPFL procedures and received an anterior femoral cutaneous nerve block with those who received the adductor canal block.

Participants will:

  • Be randomized to receive either the AFCNB or ACB in addition to standard of care analgesia.
  • Maintain a patient diary to document daily pain meds/pain scores
  • Complete follow up surveys/questionnaires via telephone and during their office visits with surgeons.

Conditions

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction

Study ID

NCT06590402

Start date

Jun 6, 2025

Status verified date

Oct, 2025

Completion date

Jan, 2028

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Jun, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 8 - 18

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • 8-18 years old at the time of surgery
  • Patients 40kg and above
  • ACL reconstruction of MPFL reconstruction surgery with participating surgeons

Exclusion Criteria:

  • revision surgery
  • bilateral surgery
  • general anesthesia
  • contraindications to any part of the study protocol
  • relevant pre-existing neurological deficit
  • chronic pain

Study Design

Enrollment

60 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Other

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) surgeries

Pediatric subjects who underwent a Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) surgery and are randomized to receive either the adductor canal block (ACB) or the anterior femoral cutaneous nerve block (AFCNB).

experimental: Medial Patellofemoral Ligament (MPFL) surgeries

Pediatric subjects who underwent a Medial Patellofemoral Ligament (MPFL) surgery and are randomized to receive either the adductor canal block (ACB) or the anterior femoral cutaneous nerve block (AFCNB).

Interventions

Bupivacaine, Dexamethasone in Adductor Canal Block

0.25% 15-20ml bupivacaine (local anesthestic) delivered as part of the adductor canal block with 2 mg preservative-free dexamethasone (corticosteroid) delivered as part of the adductor canal block

Bupivacaine, Dexamethasone in Anterior Femoral Cutaneous Nerve Block

10 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine (local anesthetic) delivered as part of the anterior femoral cutaneous nerve block with 2 mg preservative-free dexamethasone (corticosteroid) delivered as part of the anterior femoral cutaneous nerve block

Primary outcome measure

  • Postoperative Function (Motor strength in quadriceps) [ Time Frame: 3 months ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Marko Popovic

646-797-8948popovicm@hss.edu

Alex Sideris, PhD

212-774-2602Siderisa@hss.edu

Locations

Hospital for Special Surgery

Recruiting

New York, New York, United States, 10021

Contacts

Jashvant Poeran, MD/PhD

poeranj@hss.edu

More Information

Sponsor

Hospital for Special Surgery, New York

Last update posted

Oct 6, 2025

Last verified

Oct, 2025

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Hospital for Special Surgery, New York on 2025-10-06.