Targeted Nerve Injection to the Knee (Nerve to Vastus Medialis): Comparing Two Adductor Canal Block Approaches
Starting soon · Phase 4
Conditions studied: Anesthesia, Local
In brief
This randomized, double-blinded volunteer study compares two ways of performing the adductor canal (AC) nerve block at the mid-thigh to see which approach more reliably numbs the anteromedial knee. One approach is the traditional AC block placed near the saphenous nerve; the other separately targets the nerve to vastus medialis (NVM) in addition to the saphenous nerve. Healthy adult participants receive both blocks in one visit (one on each leg), with the order randomized. The primary outcome is change in quadriceps strength (a proxy for vastus medialis anesthesia) measured by load-cell dynamometry. Secondary outcomes include cutaneous sensory mapping (pinprick and cold) and the percentage of a standardized, marked knee-incision line covered by sensory block. The study uses ultrasound guidance and a standard dose of chloroprocaine, with routine monitoring to minimize risks.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT07444827
- Run by
- Duke University
- People needed
- 25
- Starts
- 2026-07-01
- Expected to finish
- 2027-12-01
- Last updated by the study team
- 2026-03-03
Who can join
Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Age ≥18 years
- Able to provide written informed consent
- Able and willing to comply with study procedures and \~6-hour visit
- American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Status 1 or 2
- Weight >70 kg
You may not qualify if…
- BMI >35 kg/m²
- Use of analgesics within 24 hours before the procedure
- History of thigh trauma or surgery
- Pregnant or planning pregnancy
- Lower extremity deformities/tattoos interfering with block performance
- Systemic neuromuscular disease
- Contraindications to regional anesthesia (e.g., infection, allergy, challenging sonoanatomy)
- Other health conditions that would affect safe participation
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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