New ankle pain shot could cut opioid use after surgery

NCT ID NCT07212114

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study compares two numbing medicines given as nerve blocks before total ankle replacement surgery. One is EXPAREL, a long-acting form of bupivacaine, and the other is standard bupivacaine. Researchers want to see if EXPAREL provides better pain relief and reduces the need for opioid painkillers in the days after surgery. About 104 adults having ankle replacement will take part.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

EXPAREL (a long-acting form of the numbing medicine bupivacaine)

What this could lead to

If it works, this could give patients longer-lasting pain relief after ankle replacement surgery and reduce the need for opioid painkillers.

What could go wrong

This is a single-center trial with only 104 people, so results may not apply to everyone. The improvement over standard care may be small or not meaningful.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

agnosia

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Study contacts

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

Locations

  • Emory University Orthopaedic Hospital Musculoskeletal Institute (MSK)

    RECRUITING

    Atlanta, Georgia, 30329, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••