This study will enroll patients 18-75 years of age who are undergoing elective primary total knee replacement. The patients will be randomized to receive one of two spinal blocks: 1) mepivacaine or 2) bupivacaine. The primary goal is to determine which group arrives at recovery of motor function first. Ultimately, this study will explore if mepivacaine leads to earlier return of motor function and ultimately earlier movement and discharge times following total knee replacement.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
160
spinal block using 60mg of mepivacaine
spinal block using 10mg of bupivacaine
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina, United States
Time until return of motor function following spinal placement
This will be defined as full strength with both 1) foot plantar and dorsiflexion and 2) hip flexion and 3) knee flexion in the non-operative extremity.
Time frame: From anesthesia stop time until 7 days post-op
Ambulation
Time to first ambulation and distance at first ambulation
Time frame: from anesthesia stop time until 7 days post-op
Length of Stay
based on anesthesia end time to time discharge order written
Time frame: Time from anesthesia end time to when discharge order is written, up to 30 days post-op
Side Effects
Side effects such as Urinary retention, dizziness, symptomatic hypotension, transient neurologic symptoms
Time frame: 0-48 hours post spinal placement
Pain Scores
Visual Analog Pain Score 0-100 pain scores at rest, and with movement. A lower pain score means a better outcome.
Time frame: Pacu to 48 hours post-spinal placement
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