New pain relief combo tested for wrist surgery recovery
NCT ID NCT06235606
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested two different methods to control pain after wrist fracture surgery. One group received a long-lasting numbing medicine (liposomal bupivacaine) plus standard bupivacaine, while the other group received a sedative (dexmedetomidine) plus standard bupivacaine. The goal was to see which approach provides better pain relief and helps patients recover faster. 96 adults undergoing wrist fracture repair took part in this completed Phase 3 trial.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 3
Large-scale testing in a bigger group. Usually the last step before a treatment can be approved.
- Participants
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96 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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May 2024
- Finished
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Feb 2026
- 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 90 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.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion criteria * American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) status I-III * Age 18-90 years old * Scheduled for distal radial fracture fixation (Open reduction and internal fixation with volar approaching locking plate) * Patients with informed consent to participate in the study Exclusion criteria * Revision surgery * Previous fractures or surgery in the affected distal radius * Surgery involving more than the affected arm * Higher energy and high-grade fracture cases - road traffic accident, fall from height, open fractures, combined distal radius and distal ulna fractures, fractures requiring external fixation, fractures with severe articular comminution or severe metaphyseal extension, comminuted fractures requiring more than a single volar approach incision and a single volar locking plate implant * Cases with painful conditions affecting the upper limb prior to surgery such as cervical spine, shoulder, elbow, other hand and wrist problems * Cases with baseline (pre-injury) QuickDASH score worse than 10 out of 100 * Respiratory compromise (requires long term oxygen) * History of seizures * Pre-existing neurological disorder/deficit * Chronic opioid user (3 months or more) * Presence of chronic pain condition (pain duration over 3 months) * Alcohol or substance abuse * Psychiatric illness * Impaired mental state * Local infection * Allergy to analgesic drugs: local anaesthetic drugs, paracetamol, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opioids * Impaired renal function (defined as effective glomerular filtration rate \<30ml/min/1.73m2 * Impaired liver function (defined as plasma bilirubin over 34μmol/L; international normalized ratio \[INR\] ≥1.7, alanine aminotransferase \[ALT\] over 100U/L, aspartate aminotransferase \[AST\] over 100U/L) * Coagulopathy (platelet count \<100,000/ml and/or INR ≥1.5) or the use of anticoagulants (not including aspirin) that precludes the use of supraclavicular BPB * Pregnancy * Patient refusal for regional nerve blocks * Patient refusal to join the clinical trial * Patient unable/unwilling to attend post-op rehabilitation programme
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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.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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The University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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