Recruiting

GNB

Sponsor:

University of Pennsylvania

Code:

NCT07158736

Conditions

Knee Pain

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Genicular nerve block with bupivacaine and corticosteroids

Standard of Care

Study Details

Brief 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.

Conditions

Knee Pain

Study ID

NCT07158736

Start date

Aug 6, 2025

Status verified date

Feb, 2026

Completion date

Sep 1, 2026

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Aug 1, 2026

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Atraumatic knee pain
  • >17 years age
  • X-ray of the knee obtained in the ED
  • Initial pain score (numeric rating scale) 5-10

Exclusion Criteria:

  • 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
  • History of knee replacement of affected knee
  • Concern for septic joint
  • Overlying cellulitis
  • Hemodynamic instability
  • Altered mental status or inability to consent for procedure.

Study Design

Enrollment

34 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Genicular Nerve Block

This arm of patients (17 total) will receive the genicular nerve block for their knee pain.

active comparator: Standard of Care

This arm of patients (17 total) will receive standard of care analgesia for their knee pain

Interventions

Genicular nerve block with bupivacaine and corticosteroids

genicular nerve block with ideal body-weight dosing of bupivacaine 0.5% with 4 mg dexamethasone

Standard of Care

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.

Primary outcome measure

  • Pain level [ Time Frame: 1 hour post-enrollment ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Umar Clinical Research Coordinator, AB

267-624-4394umar.aulia@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Locations

Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

Recruiting

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104

Contacts

Michael Shalaby, MD

267-624-4394michael.shalaby@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Principal Investigator:

Michael Shalaby, MD

Pennsylvania Hospital

Recruiting

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104

Contacts

Michael Shalaby, MD

267-624-4394michael.shalaby@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Principal Investigator:

Michael Shalaby, MD

Pennsylvania Presbyterian Medical Center

Recruiting

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104

Contacts

Michael Shalaby

267-624-4394michael.shalaby@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

HUP Cedar

Recruiting

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19143

Contacts

Michael Shalaby, MD

267-624-4394michael.shalaby@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Principal Investigator:

Michael Shalaby, MD

More Information

Sponsor

University of Pennsylvania

Last update posted

Feb 12, 2026

Last verified

Feb, 2026

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-08. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of Pennsylvania on 2026-02-12.