Efficacy of Methylprednisolone for Pain Control After ACL Repair

Recruiting now · Phase 4

Conditions studied: ACL Surgery, Pain Management

In brief

Opioids are commonly used after orthopedic surgery for pain control but have been shown to increase complications, surgeries, readmissions, and risk for opioid use disorder. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of adding a methylprednisolone taper to the pain regimen after ACL repair surgery to determine if this results in decreased postoperative pain and opioid use without increasing complications.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07158476

Run by

St. Louis University

People needed

90

Starts

2025-10-21

Expected to finish

2031-09-01

Last updated by the study team

2025-10-24

Who can join

Age: 13 and older, up to 50. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Patient undergoing ACL repair or ACL reconstruction with tendon autograft
• Age 13-50 years old
• Able to provide informed consent or parent/legal guardian is able for minors

You may not qualify if…

• Concurrent and significant injury to other bones or organs (Injury Severity Score of 4 or greater)
• Revision ACL reconstruction
• Concomitant additional ligament reconstruction or high tibial osteotomy
• A history of alcohol abuse, substance abuse or chronic opioid use (filled opioid medication ×2 within 6 months of the surgery)
• A history of renal failure (<60 mL/min/1.73 m2), liver dysfunction (child class, >B), severe heart disease (NYHA Class 4), diabetes, neurological or psychiatric diseases that may affect pain perception, and pre-existing immune suppression.
• A history or active peptic ulcer disease, gastrointestinal bleeding, or current use of anticoagulation.
• Patients currently taking oral or injectable glucocorticoids and those who have taken either within 1 month of the procedure.
• Patients who are currently pregnant.
• Patients who are unable to undergo the multimodal pain standardized protocol including those with comorbidities or medical allergies precluding the use of corticosteroids, gabapentin, hydrocodone, acetaminophen, ketorolac, and/or meloxicam.

Where it is running

• Saint Louis University — St Louis, Missouri, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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