Knee surgery pain relief: could a simple injection reduce opioid use?
NCT ID NCT07064993
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests whether injecting tramadol, with or without dexamethasone, into the knee joint after arthroscopy can reduce pain and the need for extra painkillers. About 135 adults having minor knee surgery will be randomly assigned to receive one of two drug combinations or a placebo. The main goal is to measure pain levels over the first 24 hours after surgery.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Tramadol and dexamethasone
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a simple, effective way to manage pain right after knee surgery, reducing the need for strong painkillers.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase trial, so results may not apply to everyone. There is also a risk of side effects like nausea or itching from the medications.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 4
Runs after approval, following long-term safety and how well the treatment works in everyday use.
- Participants
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About 135 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Jul 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Apr 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 65 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: Patients aged 18-65 years ASA physical status I-II Scheduled for elective knee arthroscopy under general anesthesia Only minor arthroscopic procedures such as partial meniscectomy will be included Ability to provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria: Allergy or contraindication to tramadol or dexamethasone Chronic opioid use or chronic pain conditions History of psychiatric or neurological disorders that may affect pain perception Severe hepatic or renal impairment Pregnancy or breastfeeding Infection at the injection site Bleeding diathesis Refusal to participate Major reconstructive knee surgeries (e.g., anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction)
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Van Yuzuncu Yil University School of Medicine Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation
Van, 65100, Turkey (Türkiye)
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