Genicular Nerve Block in Chronic Knee Osteoarthritis

NCT07174167 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: KAEK 2023/58
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 81
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether genicular nerve block (GNB) is effective in reducing pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis. It will also assess the comparative efficacy of different injection protocols. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does genicular nerve block with corticosteroid and local anesthetic provide superior pain relief compared with local anesthetic alone or placebo? Are there differences in clinical outcomes between the three treatment groups? Researchers will compare three groups: GNB with corticosteroid plus local anesthetic GNB with local anesthetic alone Sham procedure with saline (placebo control) Participants will: Receive the assigned injection protocol in accordance with their group Be evaluated at baseline and scheduled follow-up visits for pain intensity and functional status Report their pain scores and functional limitations using standardized assessment tools

Conditions

Gonarthrosis; Primary; Genicular Nerve Block; Gonarthritis

Keywords

genicular nerve block; knee osteoarthritis; pain; disability; gonarthrosis

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Pain intensity

  Visual Analog Scale (VAS): The VAS assesses pain intensity on a 10-centimeter scale. Patients indicate their pain levels using two verbal descriptors at the end of each scale.

  at baseline, 1 week, and 1 month after treatment

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Functional status using WOMAC

  baseline, 1 week, and 1 month after treatment

• Functional status using 40-Meter Fast Walking Test

  at baseline, 1 week, and 1 month after treatment

• Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT)

  baseline, 1 week, and 1 month after treatment

Other Outcomes (1)

• Ultrasound evaluation

  baseline

Study Arms (3)

genicular nerve block with local anesthetic

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Group 1 (GNB with local anesthetic only): Patients received a genicular nerve block (GNB) with 6 mL of 2% prilocaine and participated in a knee exercise program.

Drug: Genicular nerve block with prilocaine

genicular nerve block with local anesthetic and corticosteroid

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Group 2 (GNB with local anesthetic and corticosteroid): Patients received GNB with 5 mL of 2% prilocaine in combination with 1 mL/40 mg of triamcinolone and followed the same exercise regimen.

Drug: genicular nerve block with prilocaine and triamcinolone

sham injection with saline

SHAM COMPARATOR

Group 3 (Control group): Patients received a placebo injection (6 mL of 0.9% saline) with the knee exercise program.

Drug: Sham injection

Interventions

Genicular nerve block with prilocaine DRUG

ultrasound guided genicular nerve block (GNB) injecting 6 mL of 2% prilocaine to the genicular nerves

Also known as: group 1

genicular nerve block with local anesthetic

genicular nerve block with prilocaine and triamcinolone DRUG

ultrasound guided genicular nerve block (GNB) injecting 5 mL of 2% prilocaine in combination with 1 mL/40 mg of triamcinolone to the genicular nerves

Also known as: group 2

genicular nerve block with local anesthetic and corticosteroid

Sham injection DRUG

placebo injection using 6 mL of 0.9% saline to knee region other than genicular nerves

Also known as: group 3

sham injection with saline

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 45 Years - 75 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• age between 45 and 75
• diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis (OA) according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria
• possessing a Kellgren-Lawrence radiological grade of 2-3

You may not qualify if:

• any joint injection to the target knee in the past 3 months
• physical therapy for the target knee within the last 3 months
• previous knee surgery
• inflammatory rheumatic diseases
• active lumbar radiculopathy on the same side
• neurological disorders (e.g., Alzheimer's or dementia)
• uncontrolled cardiopulmonary diseases
• pregnancy or lactation
• obesity (body mass index \[BMI\] \>35)
• presence of a pacemaker
• active malignancy

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital: lead

Study Sites (1)

Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital

Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (4)

• Li W, Xu F, Chen F, Cao L, Bao X. Effect of Genicular Nerve Block (GNB) on Pain in Lesions of the Knee Joint: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. J Pain Res. 2025 Jan 30;18:511-522. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S503937. eCollection 2025.

  PMID: 39901967 BACKGROUND

• Kim DH, Lee MS, Lee S, Yoon SH, Shin JW, Choi SS. A Prospective Randomized Comparison of the Efficacy of Ultrasound- vs Fluoroscopy-Guided Genicular Nerve Block for Chronic Knee Osteoarthritis. Pain Physician. 2019 Mar;22(2):139-146.

  PMID: 30921977 BACKGROUND

• Kim DH, Choi SS, Yoon SH, Lee SH, Seo DK, Lee IG, Choi WJ, Shin JW. Ultrasound-Guided Genicular Nerve Block for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial of Local Anesthetic Alone or in Combination with Corticosteroid. Pain Physician. 2018 Jan;21(1):41-52.

  PMID: 29357330 BACKGROUND

• Shanahan EM, Robinson L, Lyne S, Woodman R, Cai F, Dissanayake K, Paddick K, Cheung G, Voyvodic F. Genicular Nerve Block for Pain Management in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2023 Feb;75(2):201-209. doi: 10.1002/art.42384. Epub 2022 Nov 11.

  PMID: 36369781 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Osteoarthritis, Knee; Pain

Interventions

Prilocaine; Triamcinolone; salicylhydroxamic acid

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Osteoarthritis; Arthritis; Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Rheumatic Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Anilides; Amides; Organic Chemicals; Aniline Compounds; Amines; Pregnadienes; Pregnanes; Steroids; Fused-Ring Compounds; Polycyclic Compounds; Steroids, Fluorinated

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Medical Doctor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 2, 2025
• First Posted: September 15, 2025
• Study Start: April 1, 2023
• Primary Completion: February 10, 2024
• Study Completion: July 1, 2024
• Last Updated: November 28, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-11

Locations

TU (1)