Clinical trial NCT02891798
Conditions: Pain
Keywords: analgesia, buprenorphine clonidine dexamethasone bupivacaine nerve block
Sponsor: Brian Williams
Start date: 2016-10-01; Completion date: 2021-08-20
Enrollment: 98 participants; Allocation: RANDOMIZED; Intervention model: PARALLEL

Brief summary:
After total joint replacement, early hospital discharge to home (with patients capable of continuing a home-based rehabilitation program) is a cost- effective management strategy. This project will use improved local anesthetic nerve block techniques to enhance technical capability and clinical practice by (i) reducing pain and other morbidities during recovery, (ii) improving weight-bearing achievement during in-hospital physical therapy to allow for earlier return home, and (iii) continued rehabilitation as an outpatient at home when feasible (versus in an extended care facility).

Detailed description:
Patients will have spinal anesthesia for their hip or knee replacement surgery. They will also receive the nerve blocks described above

Arms: arm 1: Patients will receive a nerve block consisting of bupivacaine plus clonidine-buprenorphine-dexamethasone (Bupivacaine-CBD) arm 2: Patients will receive a nerve block consisting of bupivacaine only.
Interventions: intervention 1: Bupivacaine + CBD (clonidine, buprenorphine, dexamethasone) intervention 2: Bupivacaine Only (control arm)
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Nerve blocks before surgery of L2-L4 and L4-S3 for Knee replacements Nerve blocks before surgery of L2-L4 for hip replacements intervention 2: Nerve blocks before surgery of L2-L4 and L4-S3 for Knee replacements Nerve blocks before surgery of L2-L4 for hip replacements

Protocol documents:
Prot_SAP_000.pdf: 
Protocol Title: 4-drug Nerve Block versus Plain Local Anesthetic for 
Knee and Hip Arthroplasty Analgesia in Veterans 
 
 
Protocol Version 10.0 
Protocol Date:  September 12, 2018 
 
 
NCT02891798 


Page 1 of 48 
Protocol Version 09/12/2018 
Project Title: 4-drug Nerve Block versus Plain Local Anesthetic for Knee and Hip Arthroplasty 
Analgesia in Veterans 
 
Study Sponsor: 
Department of Defense MRMC Broad Agency Announcement  
(application submission log no. 13232002) 
 
Protocol Version and Date:  Protocol version 10.0 
September 12, 2018 
 
Principal Investigator:    
Brian A. Williams, MD, MBA 
 
 
 
 
VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (VAPHS) 
 
 
 
 
University Drive C 
 
 
 
 
Pittsburgh, PA 15240 
 
 
 
 
412-360-1602 
Brian.Williams6@va.gov 
 
Research Coordinator: 
Karen Gilbert 
 
 
 
 
VAPHS Clinical Trials Center, University Drive C, Pittsburgh, PA 15240 
 
 
 
 
Karen.Gilbert2@va.gov 
 
 
 
 
412-360-3792 
 
*Co-Investigators, and Exempt Key Personnel:  
 
*Sara Piva, PhD, PT 
Deborah Kowatch, PT, DPT 
David Wortman, MPT 
Kathryn Brown, MS, PT, NCS 
University of Pittsburgh 
School of Health & 
Rehabilitation Sciences 
Pittsburgh, PA 15260 
*Visala Muluk, MD 
Mary Hotchkiss, MD 
Patricia Gamble, CRNP 
Linda Hennigan, CRNP 
Patrice Price, CRNP 
Kimberly Cehic, CRNP 
Rebecca Durian, CRNP 
IMPACT Clinic – VAPHS 
University Drive C 
Pittsburgh, PA 15240 
 
*James W. Ibinson, MD, PhD 
*Catalin S. Ezaru, MD 
*Marsha Ritter-Jones, MD, PhD 
VAPHS Anesthesia Service 
University Drive C 
Pittsburgh, PA 15240 
Derek Coughenour, DPT, MPM 
Brad Krushinski, DPT  
Elizabeth Tonarelli, DPT 
VAPHS Rehabilitation 
University Drive C 
Pittsburgh, PA 15240 
*Peter Z. Cohen, MD 
Kraig Graham, MD 
Robert T. Modrak, PA-C 
Michael Holmes, PA-C 
Phylicia George, PA-C 
John Gresh, PA-C, MBA 
Dept. of Orthopedic Surgery 
VAPHS 
University Drive C 
Pittsburgh, PA 15240 
 
 


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Protocol Version 09/12/2018 
Institution(s):  
VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System 
University Drive C 
Pittsburgh, PA 15240 
University of Pittsburgh 
4200 Fifth Ave 
Pittsburgh, PA 15260 
 


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Protocol Version 09/12/2018 
TABLE OF CONTENTS  
 
Protocol Section 
Page # 
1.0  Specific Aims 
4 
2.0  Background and Significance 
4 
3.0  Drug Information 
6 
4.0  Research Design and Methods 
12 
5.0  Statistical Analysis 
20 
6.0  Subject Population 
24 
7.0  Risks/Benefits 
26 
8.0 Data Safety Monitoring Board 
28 
9.0  Adverse Event Reporting 
29 
10.0  Resources 
34 
11.0  Collaborations 
34 
12.0  Qualifications of Investigators 
35 
13.0  References 
36 
Appendix 1 – Study Calendar 
39 
Appendix 2 – Protocol Amendments 
41 
 
 


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Protocol Version 09/12/2018 
1.0 
Specific Aims  
 
Specific Aim 
To compare the pain relief effects of plain bupivacaine nerve blocks against the effects of a 4-drug nerve 
block (bupivacaine-clonidine-buprenorphine-dexamethasone) for total knee or hip arthroplasty 
(TKA/THA).  The survey instrument for the specific aim of the research (Short-Form McGill Pain 
Questionnaire, version 2, at 24 hr after surgery), is robust, valid, and reliable for evaluation of this 
important patient-centered quality-of-care parameter. 
 
Exploratory Aims: 
The secondary aims of short- and long-term physical therapy and rehabilitation-related benefits will also 
be examined for effects of nerve block drug treatment (plain bupivacaine versus 4-drug blocks) and 
surgical site (TKA/THA). The tertiary aim is to determine differences in opioid-related side effects based 
on nerve block treatment.  Optimizing the described aims (ensuring that sufficient nerve block pain 
management duration does not compromise short- and long-term physical therapy efforts) is what we 
forecast that this comparative study will provide for future hypothesis generation, including the 
possibility that the 4-drug nerve block concept is adopted into general clinical practice.   
 
2.0 
Background and Significance 
 
2.1 
Background 
The surgical invasiveness of elective total knee/hip arthroplasty (TKA/THA) in veterans provides a 
logical model under controlled conditions for evaluating physical therapy / occupational therapy 
(PT/OT) effectiveness after major lower extremity polytrauma sustained in the battlefield. The central 
idea of this protocol (in the grant application submitted to the Department of Defense) is to measure pain 
(primary) and rehabilitation (exploratory) outcomes after TKA/THA as influenced by factors under the 
direction of the anesthesiologist physician, specifically nerve block drug selection (plain bupivacaine 
versus the described 4-drug mixture as single-injection nerve blocks).  
 
For these TKA/THA cases, our standard of care regional anesthesia (RegA) technique entails spinal 
anesthesia to ensure adequate anesthesia and excellent surgical conditions during surgery.  Spinal 
anesthesia alone does not provide any sustained pain relief after surgery.  As a result, our institutional 
standard of care for TKA/THA also entails single-injection nerve blocks (with the described 4-drug 
combination) of both L2-L4 and L4-S3 nerves/plexi, placed before surgery.  Applying these nerve blocks 
before surgery ensures that our patients do not have significant pain after the spinal anesthetic “wears 
off” later in the day after surgery. 
 
Nerve blocks can be administered as single-injections or via percutaneous indwelling catheters, the latter 
of which being far more labor-intensive and expensive.(1)  We do not use indwelling perineural 
catheters at our institution.  In the absence of the described 4-drug MultiModal PeriNeural Analgesia 
(MMPNA), the plain bupivacaine single-injection (0.1% - 0.25%) nerve block is typically reported as 
having 8-16 hr analgesic duration.  In our institutional standard of care experience, the addition of 
clonidine-buprenorphine-dexamethasone (CBD) to bupivacaine 0.1% – 0.25% yields an average 
duration of analgesia of approximately 36 hr.  We are unable to determine if this additional analgesic 
duration inhibits physical therapy after surgery (one of our exploratory aims for this specific study).  


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Protocol Version 09/12/2018 
“Nerve block analgesia” is not necessarily synonymous with “nerve block numbness.”  Analgesia is 
“pain relief,” and pain relief without numbness is thought to promote early physical therapy.  Nerve 
block numbness (even though the numbness is indeed providing pain relief) is expected to delay physical 
therapy due to lack of muscle strength during numbness.  One of the goals of the study’s exploratory 
aims is to determine if the MMPNA 4-drug combination provides both improved pain relief and 
improved physical therapy in the days after surgery (when compared with plain bupivacaine).   
 
Anesthesia planning for invasive orthopedic surgery after battlefield-sustained polytrauma above and 
below the abdomen typically requires general endotracheal anesthesia (GETA) for surgical stabilization 
of all traumatic injuries. However, based on recent anesthetic innovations, GETA is no longer required 
for elective TKA/THA, and therefore GETA is not specifically required for one-sided lower-extremity 
polytrauma.  For TKA/THA, the exclusive use of RegA (without GETA) is not only feasible and 
sufficient, but also comparatively effective via reductions in morbidity and mortality (based on 
population data).(2) GETA has temporary adverse effects on immediate postoperative cognitive function 
after surgery, and the cognitive risks after multiple episodes of GETA is unknown but is unlikely to be 
beneficial long term.  Eliminating GETA as a confounder of immediate physical therapy / occupational 
therapy (PT/OT) outcome evaluation now allows for proper evaluation of anesthesiologist physician-
directed pain relief, and this study of veteran-specific care has the potential to immediately translate to 
the care of injured military personnel. 
 
This is a prospective randomized clinical trial comparing the two nerve block treatments described 
above.  MMPNA (used in the 4-drug treatment which is our current institutional standard of care) entails 
nerve block drug combinations using all preservative free and commercially-available injectable drugs. 
Clonidine-buprenorphine-dexamethasone (CBD) are off-label; each individual drug has achieved 
textbook status (3-5) for routine clinical use in nerve blocks after appropriate clinical efficacy being 
demonstrated in clinical trials during the past 15-20 years. The PI’s research team has demonstrated in 
vitro(6) and in vivo(7) safety of combined CBD with local anesthetics. FDA approved local anesthetics 
(e.g., bupivacaine) are among the “gold standard” drugs used for peripheral nerve blocks. To date, there 
have been no “head-to-head” publications comparing MMPNA (4-drug block) versus plain local 
anesthetic.   
 
2.2 
Preliminary Studies 
Since July 2011, our center (VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System) has routinely used MMPNA with CBD 
(with bupivacaine) for its peripheral nerve blocks postoperative analgesia (in addition to the 
intraoperative spinal anesthetic for reliable surgical anesthesia).  We have since published our observed 
outcomes for these patients (Pain Medicine 2015, ref.9), which was a median analgesic duration of 37 hr 
(95% confidence interval of the mean being 30-49 hr). 
 
The duration of nerve block analgesia (as opposed to “numbness” or motor block) is important since 
longer duration appears to attenuate patient’s “rebound pain”(11). Since CBD are “motor sparing” 
analgesic adjuvants to local anesthetics used in nerve blocks, CBD added to bupivacaine will help 
extend the duration of analgesia, but would not necessarily prolong motor block. We anticipate that 
higher rebound pain scores will inhibit the achievement of postoperative PT/OT objectives. 
 
2.3 
Significance 


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In our attempt to eliminate the effects of traditional GETA confounding the progress of PT/OT after 
TKA/THA, we aim to demonstrate that the “4-drug blocks” have significant clinical benefit over blocks 
with plain bupivacaine.  These benefits should be immediately transferable to active military personnel 
injured in battle and presenting to the operating theater for surgery on the traumatized lower extremity, 
in efforts to minimize immediate pain along with the risks of joint contracture and stiffness during long-
term PT/OT efforts after surgery. This paradigm shift in RegA (specifically, the described 4-drug 
MMPNA combination) is innovative, inexpensive, and provides the potential for distinct advantages 
over complex and labor intensive nerve block catheter techniques. 
 
3.0 
Drug Information 
 
3.1 
Bupivacaine combined with CBD: 
This protocol’s study treatment will use bupivacaine-based MMPNA in which CBD is added to 
bupivacaine.  Plain bupivacaine will be used as the active control (there will be no placebo group).  
Bupivacaine is FDA-approved for use as a local anesthetic.  MMPNA entails nerve block drug 
combinations using all preservative free and commercially-available injectable drugs.  The individual 
drugs comprising CBD are off-label; each has achieved textbook status (3-5) for routine clinical use in 
nerve blocks after appropriate clinical efficacy being demonstrated in clinical trials during the past 15-20 
years.  
 
3.2  Bupivacaine (12) 
Clinical Uses 
Bupivacaine hydrochloride injection, USP is indicated for the production of local or regional anesthesia 
or analgesia for surgery, oral surgery procedures, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and for 
obstetrical procedures. 
 
Chemistry and Metabolism 
Bupivacaine hydrochloride USP is 2-Piperidinecarboxamide, 1-butyl-N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-, 
monohydrochloride, monohydrate, a white, odorless, crystalline powder that is freely soluble in 95 
percent ethanol, soluble in water, and slightly soluble in chloroform or acetone. It has the following 
structural formula: 
 
 
Bupivacaine hydrochloride injection, USP is available in sterile isotonic solution for injection via local 
infiltration, peripheral nerve block, and caudal and lumbar epidural blocks. Solution of Bupivacaine 
hydrochloride injection, USP may be autoclaved. Solution is clear and colorless. 
 
Bupivacaine is related chemically and pharmacologically to the aminoacyl local anesthetics. It is a 
homologue of mepivacaine and is chemically related to lidocaine. All three of these anesthetics contain 


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Protocol Version 09/12/2018 
an amide linkage between the aromatic nucleus and the amino, or piperidine group. They differ in this 
respect from the procaine-type local anesthetics, which have an ester linkage. 
 
Bupivacaine hydrochloride injection, USP — Sterile isotonic solution containing sodium chloride. The 
pH of the solution is adjusted to between 4 and 6.5 with sodium hydroxide or hydrochloric acid. 
 
Pharmacokinetics 
The rate of systemic absorption of local anesthetics is dependent upon the total dose and concentration 
of drug administered, the route of administration, the vascularity of the administration site, and the 
presence or absence of epinephrine in the anesthetic solution. A dilute concentration of epinephrine 
(1:200,000 or 5 mcg/mL) usually reduces the rate of absorption and peak plasma concentration of 
Bupivacaine, permitting the use of moderately larger total doses and sometimes prolonging the duration 
of action. 
 
The onset of action with Bupivacaine is rapid, and anesthesia is long lasting. The duration of anesthesia 
is significantly longer with Bupivacaine than with any other commonly used local anesthetic. It has also 
been noted that there is a period of analgesia that persists after the return of sensation, during which time 
the need for strong analgesics is reduced. 
 
Local anesthetics are bound to plasma proteins in varying degrees. Generally, the lower the plasma 
concentration of drug the higher the percentage of drug bound to plasma proteins. 
 
Although not applicable to this study, local anesthetics appear to cross the placenta by passive diffusion. 
The rate and degree of diffusion is governed by (1) the degree of plasma protein binding, (2) the degree 
of ionization, and (3) the degree of lipid solubility. Fetal/maternal ratios of local anesthetics appear to be 
inversely related to the degree of plasma protein binding, because only the free, unbound drug is 
available for placental transfer. Bupivacaine with a high protein binding capacity (95%) has a low 
fetal/maternal ratio (0.2 to 0.4). The extent of placental transfer is also determined by the degree of 
ionization and lipid solubility of the drug. Lipid soluble, non-ionized drugs readily enter the fetal blood 
from the maternal circulation. 
 
Depending upon the route of administration, local anesthetics are distributed to some extent to all body 
tissues, with high concentrations found in highly perfused organs such as the liver, lungs, heart, and 
brain. 
 
Pharmacokinetic studies on the plasma profile of Bupivacaine after direct intravenous injection suggest a 
three-compartment open model. The first compartment is represented by the rapid intravascular 
distribution of the drug. The second compartment represents the equilibration of the drug throughout the 
highly perfused organs such as the brain, myocardium, lungs, kidneys, and liver. The third compartment 
represents an equilibration of the drug with poorly perfused tissues, such as muscle and fat. The 
elimination of drug from tissue distribution depends largely upon the ability of binding sites in the 
circulation to carry it to the liver where it is metabolized. 
 
After injection of Bupivacaine hydrochloride for caudal, epidural, or peripheral nerve block in man, peak 
levels of Bupivacaine in the blood are reached in 30 to 45 minutes, followed by a decline to insignificant 


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Protocol Version 09/12/2018 
levels during the next three to six hours.  For this study, peripheral nerve block (not caudal or epidural) 
is the basis of the specific aim. 
 
Various pharmacokinetic parameters of the local anesthetics can be significantly altered by the presence 
of hepatic or renal disease, addition of epinephrine, factors affecting urinary pH, renal blood flow , the 
route of drug administration, and the age of the patient. The half-life of bupivacaine in adults is 2.7 hours 
(and in neonates 8.1 hours). 
 
In clinical studies, elderly patients reached the maximal spread of analgesia and maximal motor 
blockade more rapidly than younger patients. Elderly patients also exhibited higher peak plasma 
concentrations following administration of this product. The total plasma clearance was decreased in 
these patients. 
 
Amide-type local anesthetics such as Bupivacaine are metabolized primarily in the liver via conjugation 
with glucuronic acid. Patients with hepatic disease, especially those with severe hepatic disease, may be 
more susceptible to the potential toxicities of the amide-type local anesthetics. Pipecoloxylidine is the 
major metabolite of Bupivacaine. 
 
The kidney is the main excretory organ for most local anesthetics and their metabolites. Urinary  
excretion is affected by urinary perfusion and factors affecting urinary pH. Only 6% of Bupivacaine is 
excreted unchanged in the urine. 
 
When administered in recommended doses and concentrations, Bupivacaine hydrochloride does not 
ordinarily produce irritation or tissue damage and does not cause methemoglobinemia. 
 
3.3 
Clonidine 
Clinical Uses 
Clonidine is a drug that is commonly used for its analgesic effects on the central nervous system, 
providing dose-dependent analgesia. Clonidine is most often used in epidural / intrathecal catheters for 
continuous infusion; however, in the field of anesthesiology (in the operating room). it is commonly 
used in perineural injection as a peripheral (not central) adjuvant to local anesthetics. (13) The spinal 
cord and epidural space (the use of clonidine for which it is FDA-approved) is generally accepted to be 
at much higher risk of local drug toxicity than in the peripheral nerve.  In other words, the spinal cord / 
epidural space is much more “fragile” or “delicate” than is the peripheral nerve, with clonidine use in the 
spinal column being FDA-approved.  The chemical names of clonidine are Benzenamine, 2,6-dichloro-
N-2-imidazolidinylidene monohydrochloride and 2-[(2,6-dichlorophenyl) imino]-imidazolidine 
monohydrochloride, and its structural formula is shown below.  
 
Clonidine has been used as an additive to various local anesthetics in peripheral nerve blocks as a means 
of prolonging the duration of analgesia after surgery. (14, 15) Clonidine added to local anesthetics is 
thought to provide an additional 100 minutes of analgesia.(14)  It has also been reported that clonidine 
and buprenorphine have been used in the absence of local anesthetics in order to provide perineural 
analgesia. (16)  The mechanism of action of clonidine appears to be partially related to the Ih 
hyperpolarization current (17), with an apparent additional analgesic action related to C-fiber compound 
action potential attenuation. (18)  


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Chemistry and Metabolism 
Clonidine that is supplied for injection is a clear, colorless, preservative-free, aqueous sterile solution. 
Clonidine metabolism follows minor pathways with the metabolite, p-hydroxy-clonidine, and is less than 
10% of the concentration of the drug in urine. (13) 
 
 
Pharmacokinetics 
A clinical examination of the clearance rate of clonidine with 5 male subjects who received a 10-minute 
intravenous infusion of 300 mcg of clonidine shows that clonidine two distinct phases: one in which 
clonidine rapidly distributes, and a second slower phase in which the clonidine is eliminated from the 
body. The clearance rate of intravenous clonidine in this clinical study was 219 ± 92 mL / min. (13)  The 
total perineural clonidine dose to be used in this study is 50 mcg (25 mcg in each of 2 peripheral nerve-
plexus blocks). 
 
3.4  Buprenorphine  
Clinical Uses 
Buprenorphine is an opioid which is used for its analgesic properties and is intended for intravenous or 
intramuscular administration. The chemical name of buprenorphine is 17-(cyclopropylmethyl)-α-(1,1-
dimethylethyl)-4, 5-epoxy-18,19-dihydro-3-hydroxy-6-methoxy-α-methyl-6, 14-ethenomorphinan-7-
methanol, hydrochloride [5α, 7α(S)] ,and its structural formula is shown below. (12)  The mechanism of 
buprenorphine perineural analgesia is likely related to peripheral nerve opioid receptors. (13) Studies by 
Candido et al. (16, 17) show that the addition of buprenorphine to local anesthetics such as mepivacaine 
and tetracaine (along with epinephrine) prolongs the analgesic effects of the local anesthetics.  
 
Chemistry and Metabolism 
Buprenorphine hydrochloride is a white powder, weakly acidic and is slightly soluble in water, while the 
marketed form Buprenex (and since-available generic products) is a clear injectable liquid. (14) 
 


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Pharmacokinetics  
Buprenorphine is metabolized by the liver, and its clearance is due to hepatic blood flow. The onset of 
analgesia from buprenorphine can take as little as 15 minutes.(14)  As mentioned above, perineural 
injections of buprenorphine added to clonidine in the absence of local anesthetics have anecdotally 
provided 6-8 hrs of motor sparing analgesic, with a moderately fast onset of analgesic activity.  
 
3.5 
Dexamethasone (Dexamethasone sodium phosphate) 
Clinical Uses 
Dexamethasone is an adrenocortical steroid anti-inflammatory drug that is used for injection: 
intravenous, intramuscular, intra-articular, soft-tissue, and intralesional. The chemical name of 
dexamethasone is 9-Fluoro-11ß,17,21-trihydroxy-16α-methylpregna-1, 4-diene-3,20-dione 21-
(dihydrogen phosphate) disodium salt, and its structural formula is shown below. (19) The mechanism of 
action is unclear however, it has been suggested that there is C-fiber attenuation with corticosteroids. 
(20) 
 
Chemistry and Metabolism  
Dexamethasone sodium phosphate is derived from dexamethasone of which it is an ester.  The physical 
characteristics of dexamethasone are such that it occurs as a yellow crystalline powder that is soluble in 
water. (19) 
 
 
Pharmacokinetics 


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Once injected the onset of analgesia of dexamethasone is quite rapid, however the duration of analgesia 
of dexamethasone alone is relatively short. (19) 
 
3.6 
Drug Doses and Preparation 
• For diabetics (known in advance): one 20 mL syringe for the L2-L4 block 
o If randomized to receive bupivacaine only: 
 Bupivacaine 0.5% 8mL 
 0.9% sodium chloride 12mL  
 Resulting in a total volume of 20mL 
 The resulting net bupivacaine concentration is 0.2% 
o If randomized to receive bupivacaine plus clonidine-buprenorphine-dexamethasone: 
 Bupivacaine 0.5% - 8mL 
 Dexamethasone 10mg/1mL– 0.1mL 
 Buprenorphine 300mcg/1mL- 1mL 
 Clonidine 25mcg/0.25mL-0.25mL 
 0.9% sodium chloride-10.65mL 
 Resulting in a total volume of 20mL and net bupivacaine concentration of 0.2% 
 
• For non-diabetics (known in advance): one 20 mL syringe for the L2-L4 block 
o If randomized to receive bupivacaine only: 
 Bupivacaine 0.5%-10mL 
 0.9% sodium chloride-10mL 
 Resulting in a total volume of 20mL and net bupivacaine concentration of 0.25% 
o If randomized to receive bupivacaine plus clonidine-buprenorphine-dexamethasone: 
 Bupivacaine 0.5%- 10mL 
 Dexamethasone 10mg/1mL– 0.1mL 
 Buprenorphine 300mcg/1mL- 1mL 
 Clonidine 25mcg/0.25mL-0.25mL 
 0.9% sodium chloride- 8.65mL 
 Resulting in a total volume of 20mL and net bupivacaine concentration of 0.25% 
 
• For all L4-S3 blocks (irrespective of diabetes) 
o If randomized to bupivacaine only: 
 Bupivacaine 0.5%- 4mL 
 0.9% sodium chloride – 16mL 
 Resulting in a total volume of 20mL and a net bupivacaine concentration of 0.1% 
o If randomized to receive bupivacaine plus clonidine-buprenorphine-dexamethasone: 
 Bupivacaine 0.5%- 4mL 
 Dexamethasone 10mg/1mL– 0.1mL 
 Buprenorphine 300mcg/1mL- 1mL  


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 Clonidine 25mcg/0.25mL-0.25mL 
 0.9% sodium chloride- 14.65mL 
 Resulting in a total volume of 20mL and a net bupivacaine concentration of 0.1% 
 
3.7  Preparation of clonidine, buprenorphine and dexamethasone for administration 
 
Preparation of clonidine-bupivacaine-dexamethasone-buprenorphine combination syringe:   
Within 1 hour of (prior to) nerve block administration, the required quantities of injectable preservative 
free bupivacaine, buprenorphine, and dexamethasone will be withdrawn from single use containers and 
injected into an empty syringe. A single dose syringe of injectable clonidine will be added to this syringe 
along with a sufficient quantity of preservative free 0.9% sodium chloride to provide a total volume of 
20mL. 
 
Preparation of bupivacaine-only syringe:   
Within 1 hour of (prior to) nerve block administration the required quantity of injectable preservative 
free bupivacaine will be withdrawn from a single use container and injected into an empty syringe. A 
sufficient quantity of preservative free 0.9% sodium chloride will be added to the syringe to provide a 
total volume of 20mL. 
 
All drugs will be prepared on our nerve block cart, using our institutional standard of care process that 
entails hat and mask for the preparer, hand antisepsis with an isopropyl alcohol based skin cleanser, and 
cart-surface antisepsis with hospital approved antiseptic wipes.  The preparer of the syringes (an 
experienced and trained member of the anesthesia care team with respect to preparation of such syringes) 
will otherwise be uninvolved with the study or with the involved patient.  
 
4.0  Research Design and Methods 
4.1 
Type of Study 
This is a single-site study that will take place at VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA.  It is 
a prospective randomized clinical trial evaluating the two different nerve block injection drugs for TKA 
and THA, introduced above and described further below.  All described RegA techniques strategically 
avoid GETA and high-dose opioids, and the immediate postoperative complications (from GETA and 
high-dose opioids) that inhibit full-capacity cognitive function needed to accomplish PT/OT goals 
during the first 2 days after TKA/THA.  Two hundred (200) total patients will be recruited and evaluated 
for study outcomes pre-TKA/THA (100 for TKA, 100 for THA). Following pre-surgical evaluation, 
patients will be block-randomized (stratified by [a] TKA vs. THA surgical procedure, [b] age, and [c] 
presence of diabetes).  After surgery, all patients will undergo the same standardized PT/OT best-
evidence care plans consistent with current clinical care at our institution. Evaluation of study outcomes 
will take place during the first two days after surgery, throughout the remainder of the hospital stay 
(which typically ranges from 2 to 5 days, including discharge day), and during the first two orthopedic 
post-op follow-up evaluations.  The primary outcome is pain at 24 hr after surgery, and exploratory 
outcomes include physical therapy progress and anesthesia-related symptoms.  We will also assess 
additional metrics of anesthesia and physical therapy success such as range of motion, physical function 
and performance testing, length of hospital stay, discharge placement, readmission, falls, and other 
adverse events. 
 


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Study Treatment Groups: 
Institutional Standard of Care (ISOC) 
All patients will receive a standardized bupivacaine spinal anesthetic, consistent with current 
institutional practice.  All patients will receive pre-medications for the prevention of pain, nausea, 
vomiting, and gastroesophageal reflux, consistent with current institutional practice.  All patients will 
receive intravenous hydration, intravenous antiemetics, and intravenous blood pressure support (e.g., 
intravenous phenylephrine bolus/infusion) consistent with our current institutional practice.  The need 
for intraoperative blood transfusion will occur based on current institutional practice and collaborative 
decision-making between the surgical and anesthesia teams, consistent with current institutional practice. 
 
ISOC MMPNA Block Group (n=80 TKA and 80 THA patients) will receive the ISOC 4-drug MMPNA 
nerve blocks at the L2-L4 and L4-S3 nerves/plexi.  These blocks will be placed before the administration 
of spinal anesthesia, per our ISOC. 
 
Active Control Block Group  (n=20 TKA and 20 THA patients) will receive “active control” nerve 
blocks comprised of plain bupivacaine.  As with the ISOC MMPNA Block Group, these blocks will be 
placed before the administration of spinal anesthesia, per our ISOC.  Again, these blocks will involve the 
same L2-L4 and L4-S3 nerves/plexi as those for the ISOC MMPNA Block Group. 
 
All study team members will be blinded to the nerve block treatment group/drug the patient 
receives/received for the described blocks.  The only unblinded person regarding the study treatment will 
be the anesthesia team member who prepares the nerve block injection syringes, based on the 
randomization envelope assignment.  This person who prepares the drug syringes will be otherwise 
uninvolved with the care of the study patient.   
 
Table 1. Anatomic location of the analgesic nerve blocks used based on TKA versus THA 
Basic description of  
regional anesthesia and 
analgesia care plan 
TKA block details 
THA details 
Spinal anesthesia, L2-L4 and L4-
S3 perineural/plexus single-
injection nerve blocks 
L2-L4 nerve block entails the 
femoral nerve in the groin.  The 
L4-S3 nerve block entails the 
sciatic nerve as it emerges from 
the sciatic notch deep to the 
gluteal musculature.  
L2-L4 plexus block entails the 
lumbar plexus within the psoas 
compartment, 2-3 inches lateral 
to the lumbar spine midline.  The 
L4-S3 plexus block entails the 
lumbosacral trunk and parasacral 
plexus, which lies lateral to the 
lateral margin of the proximal 
sacrum.  The plexus lies deep to 
the sacroiliac ligament. 
 
4.2  Randomization and Blinding  
A total of 44 randomized blocks are needed for the study.  For random assignment and sequencing 
purposes, each randomized block consists of five integers that correspond to the four treatment and one 
control group assignment. The VA Pittsburgh Investigational Drug Service (IDS) Pharmacist will 
randomly determine which integer corresponds to the control group and the integers corresponding to the 


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four treatment groups; this random assignment will only be done once, and the same integers will 
correspond to the assigned groups across all blocks. The Investigational Drug Service Pharmacist will 
use a randomizer function available on www.random.org.  In order to maintain the blind, the control and 
treatment group assignments will not be divulged to any study staff other than the anesthesia care team 
member who prepares the nerve block injections.  The sequence of treatment/control assignments within 
each of the randomized blocks will be determined by the VA Pittsburgh StatCore using the sequence 
generator at website random.org.  Each block will have a separate sequence generated for it. 
 
The randomization scheme will be prepared before the start of the trial. Sequentially numbered and 
sealed envelopes containing the randomized control or treatment group assignment will be provided by 
the Investigational Drug Service (IDS) Pharmacist. The IDS Pharmacist will retain the sealed envelopes 
and will be responsible for providing them to the PI or designee as requested prior to the scheduled 
procedure. The PI or designee will then provide the sealed envelope to the nerve block drug mixer. The 
IDS Pharmacist will coordinate the provision of the nerve block drugs. The drugs will be stored in an 
automated dispensing cabinet and accessible only to the designated nerve block mixers.  
 
After a subject has been enrolled, the study coordinator will submit a Treatment Allocation Request 
form to the IDS Pharmacist.  
1) The Treatment Allocation Form will indicate the subject’s criteria: 
a) Age: ≤69 or >69 years 
b) Type of procedure: total knee replacement or total hip replacement 
c) Diabetes status: present or absent 
2) Based on the criteria noted on the Treatment Allocation Request form, the IDS Pharmacist will 
provide the next available treatment assignment envelope. 
3) The IDS Pharmacist will also provide the mixer with a form to document the details of the nerve 
block drugs mixed, e.g., date and time of preparation, preparer’s name, and drugs utilized. 
 
Prior to the procedure, the mixer will open the sealed envelope to determine the treatment assignment. 
The mixer will prepare the assigned nerve block as per the established preparation guidelines and 
complete the accompanying documentation form. The re-sealed treatment assignment envelope and 
documentation form will ultimately be returned to the IDS Pharmacist, to prevent any inadvertent un-
blinding of the treatment assignment. 
 
4.3 
Study Visits & Procedures 
Study Visits: 
The study procedures to be conducted for each subject enrolled in the study are presented in tabular form 
in Appendix 1 and described in the text that follows.  Additional information is provided in the manual 
of operating procedures. 
 
The study team will attempt to coordinate all of the research questionnaires and physical therapy 
sessions with the patient’s other inpatient and outpatient appointments at VAPHS.  However, if this is 
not possible, the patient will be required to come in for additional visits to complete the research surveys 
and physical tests at the described study time-points.  The total additional time required for the subject 
participating in this research study is approximately 4-5 hours (not including transportation to and from 
VAPHS).  Patients participation in this study will be approximately 3-4 months and will consist of 1-2 


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visits prior to surgery, the day of surgery visits (pre- and post- surgery), their  in-hospital post-surgery 
visits and two follow-up visits, scheduled in conjunction with their standard of care ortho scheduled 
post-surgery visits.  
 
After surgery, all patients will undergo the same standardized PT/OT best-evidence care plans (knee-
specific, and hip-specific, respectively) consistent with current clinical care at VA Pittsburgh Healthcare 
System. 
 
Throughout the study and after the patient signs consent, if the patient is signed up to use the VA 
MyHealtheVet online tool, communication between the patient and study team can occur using the 
secure messaging tool offered through MyHealtheVet. 
 
Screening/Baseline Visits 
The screening and baseline visit can be completed on the same day, if feasible.  No research screening or 
baseline procedures can be conducted until informed consent is complete.  
 
Baseline assessments will include demographics (including age and weight), smoking status, diabetes 
status, comorbidity (CIRS:  cumulative illness rating scale), completion of research questionnaires, and 
completion of physical therapy procedures. 
 
If a patient has a significant health status change after the baseline visit, but before the scheduled 
surgery, the study team will evaluate the patient’s current medical status and determine if the health 
status change will affect the baseline data.  In the rare occasion that the study team determines the 
patient’s baseline data will be affected, the patient will be asked to come back to the clinic for a second 
baseline visit.  The patient will be compensated for this visit and all baseline procedures will be 
repeated. As this repeated baseline visit is for data integrity only, and not for safety purposes, if the 
patient refuses to come back in for the repeat baseline visit, they will not be removed from the study.  
The study team will document this as a minor protocol deviation and the patient will continue on the 
study as previously planned.  . 
 
Prior to the day of surgery, the patient will complete a standard of care IMPACT visit.  (IMPACT:  
VAPHS preoperative clinic – Interdisciplinary Medical Perioperative Assessment Consultation and 
Treatment).  
 
Day of Surgery 
On the day of surgery, the patient will receive anesthesia/study drug.  Research questionnaires will be 
completed pre- and post-surgical procedure.  Please refer to Appendix 1 for additional details. 
 
In-Hospital Post-op Days (1-5)  
Post-op in hospital visits will occur while the patient is in the hospital.  
 
Follow-up visits 1 and 2 
These two visits will be done in conjunction with the patient’s standard of care orthopedic post-op visits. 
 
Study Procedures: 


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Study Questionnaires: 
Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) – version 2 (Specific Aim) 
The SF-MPQ questionnaire will be used to measure the subject’s knee or hip pain.  The questionnaire 
consists of 15 different qualities of pain and related symptoms, in which the subject is asked to rate the 
intensity of each symptom on a scale (none, mild, moderate, or severe).  The questionnaire also includes 
two additional items relating to the patient’s current pain.  This questionnaire takes 5-10 minutes to 
complete. 
 
SF-8 Survey  
The SF-8 Health Survey is a short 8-question survey designed to measure the patient’s overall health at 
24-hour intervals. It takes less than 3 minutes to complete (21). 
 
Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) 
The Short Form (SF) 36 Health Survey is a 36-item, patient-reported survey of patient health at one-
month intervals.  The SF-36 consists of eight scaled scores, which are the weighted sums of the 
questions in their section.  The eight sections are:  vitality, physical functioning, bodily pain, general 
health perceptions, physical role functioning, emotional role functioning, social role functioning and 
mental health.  The questionnaire takes approximately 5-10 minutes to complete. 
 
QoR-15 Questionnaire:  
The QoR-15 form is a 15 question survey that evaluates the quality of recovery (QoR) after anesthesia. 
The QoR-15 short-form questionnaire was created using extensive clinical and research experience with 
the 40-item QoR-40 questionnaire (with which the PI has prior research experience), and taking the 
strongest psychometrically-performing items from each of the five dimensions of the QoR-40 to create a 
short-form version (22).  The QoR-15 was evaluated in 127 adult patients after general anesthesia and 
surgery (22).  It performs well in all dimensions, and takes about 2.5 minutes to complete (22). 
 
Opioid-Related Symptom Distress Scale (ORSDS)  
The Opioid-Related Symptom Distress Scale (ORSDS) is a 4-point scale that evaluates 3 symptom 
distress dimensions (frequency, severity, bothersomeness) for 12 symptoms (23).  The symptom-specific 
ORSDS is the average of the 3 symptom distress dimensions (23). The composite ORSDS is the average 
of 12 symptom-specific scores (23). The ORSDS is a valid tool for assessment of opioid side effects 
after orthopedic surgery, and can be used in clinical trials involving a wide variety of anesthetic and 
analgesic regimens (23). 
 
Defense & Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS) and Supplemental Questions (DVPRS-IH, with “IH” 
indicating “in hospital”):  The DVPRS is a graphic tool clinicians can use to facilitate self-reported pain 
diagnoses from patients.  The DVPRS is an easy-to-use pain rating scale where the patient can rate their 
pain on a scale of 0-10 with 10 being the worst possible pain.  The supplemental questions (DVPRS-IH) 
includes 4 additional questions regarding how pain over the last 24 hours has affected the patient’s 
activity, sleep, mood, and stress.  The whole questionnaire takes less than 3 minutes to complete, and 
will be administered at every preoperative, in-hospital, and follow-up assessment. 
 


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Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index Physical Function Subscale 
(WOMAC-PF):   
For patient-reported outcome of function, we will use the data generated by Western Ontario and 
McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index Physical Function Subscale (WOMAC-PF).  The entire 
WOMAC instrument will be administered.  This instrument was developed based on patient input and is 
the instrument of choice to assess outcome post-TKA and THA (20). The WOMAC-PF consists of 17 
items related to physical function.  Each item is scored on a 5-point Likert-type Scale with descriptors 
from 0-4 (none, mild, moderate, severe, and extreme difficulty). Scores of each item are summed for a 
maximum total score on the WOMAC-PF of 68. Higher scores indicate worse functional limitations. 
Reliability and validity of this instrument have been established (25-27).  This will be given before 
surgery and at Follow-Up Visit 2 after surgery.  Licensing rights to this questionnaire have been purchased 
by the study team for use in this research study. 
 
Falls Questionnaire: 
Throughout the study, the patients will be asked about their falls history.  The information collected will 
include but is not limited to, how many falls the patient experienced in the past year (done at baseline), 
how many falls since the last assessment (in-hospital visits and Follow-Up Visit 2), questions regarding 
loss of balance, whether or not the patient is afraid of falling, and was medical treatment sought after any 
falls. 
 
Clinical Assessments 
None of the clinical assessments listed below are being done due to safety concerns, as such, if the 
physical therapist or treating physician feels that due to the patients’ medical condition (such as a knee 
immobilizer), that some or all of the physical therapy tests cannot be completed at the specified protocol 
time points; the physical therapy testing will be considered optional for these patients and will be done at 
the discretion of the treating physician and physical therapist.  If physical therapy testing is not 
completed due to the patient preparing for discharge and/or the patient has been discharged, this will not 
be considered a protocol deviation.  
 
Gait Speed: Self-selected gait speed is measured in meters/second while subjects walk a 4 meter path 
located in the middle of a longer path of 9 meters to avoid acceleration or deceleration. Subjects are 
asked to walk at their regular pace, and time is measured with a stop watch. This test takes around 2 
minutes. 
 
Repeated Chair Stand Test:  The repeated chair stand test is a simple test to assess strength of the 
muscles of the lower extremities and static balance.  It measures the time that a person takes to stand 
from a chair 5 times.  It takes approximately 1 minute to complete the repeated chair stand test.  
 
Standing Balance Test: 
This test is only performed on those patients who can stand unassisted without the use of a cane or 
walker. Moreover, the participant stands at an arm’s reach of a steady surface on one side (e.g., bed 
head/sideboard, grab bar) and the tester on the other side. There are three (3) balance tests that differ by 
their feet position (i.e., side-to-side, semi-tandem, and tandem). The balance tests are performed at each 
assessment visit.  For each: 


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1. The tester will ask the participant if they can stand without the device and are willing to try the 
test.  If they reply “yes” the tester can assist them with getting into the correct position for 
testing.   
2. The tester, for each position, will not only describe to the participant what the test is but will 
also demonstrate the appropriate position of the feet for testing.   
3. The participant will get into the proper position while receiving support from the tester. 
 
When the participant appears to be steady, ask if they are ready.  When they reply “yes”, the tester says 
“Ready, begin”.  The tester begins timing (i.e. starts the stopwatch) once the participant is standing 
independently without support from the tester. The timing for each test continues until the participant 
moves their feet, grabs for support, receives support from the tester or the time (10 seconds) has elapsed. 
This exam takes around 3 minutes. 
 
Single Leg Balance Test: 
This test will only be performed in patients who were able to complete the standing balance test. The 
single leg balance test is recommended to quickly assess global functional level, and its scores are 
related to risk for falls.  
• Participants are asked to stand on one foot for 45 seconds. The other foot is raised so that the 
raised foot is near but not touching the ankle of their stance limb.  
• The participant may use the arms, bend the knee, or move the body to maintain balance. 
The tester uses a stopwatch to measure the amount of time the participant is able to stand on one limb. 
Time commences when the participant raises the foot off the floor. Time ends when the participant 
either: (1) uses the raised foot (moved it toward or away from the standing limb or touched the floor), (2) 
moves the weight-bearing foot to maintain his balance (ie, rotated foot on the ground), (3) a maximum of 
45 seconds elapses. Three trials are performed in each side and recorded. This exam takes around 6 
minutes. 
 
 
Crude Sensory Examination: Sensory examination is carried out by touching lightly the patient in the 
specified anatomic distribution of L2-L4 and L4-S3 bilaterally, while the patient has his eyes closed.  
The patient is asked if the sensation is of equal intensity on both sides (normal), or if one side feels less 
that the other, or is unable to be felt (diminished or absent). This exam takes around 2 minutes. 
 
Hip,Knee and Ankle Range of Motion: Range of joint movement is measured with a standard 
goniometer during passive (movement assisted by the tester) and active (without assistance by the tester) 
movements. Range of motion is tested with the subject lying in supine on the hospital bed or 
examination table. This is performed on both sides and recorded in degrees. Range of motion takes 
approximately 5 minutes.  
 
Straight Leg Raise: The subject is asked to raise one lower extremity from the hospital bed up to 
approximately 45 degrees from the horizontal without bending the knee. The test is performed in both 
sides, and is recorded as “Yes” if the subject is able to raise the lower extremity higher than 20 degrees 
from the horizontal, or “No” if unable to lift the leg at that level. During this test the examiner also 
observes the presence of a knee extension lag, which is defined as a knee flexion (lag) equal or greater 
than 5 degrees during the straight leg raise. It takes approximately 3 minutes for the straight leg raise 
activity.  


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Stair climbing time:  This test measures the time the subject takes to go up a flight of stairs. Subjects are 
instructed to use the handrail for safety purposes. The tester uses a stop watch to record time. It takes 
approximately 5 minutes for this test. 
 
Functional Independence Measure (FIM):  The Functional Independence Measurement (FIM) is an 
outcome measurement tool to assess overall independence during specific functional tasks. The FIM is 
composed of 18 specific tasks that are commonly assessed and treated by physical therapists, 
occupational therapists, nurses, and other rehabilitation professionals.  FIM tasks related to transfers, 
walking, and stair climbing ability are all assessed in this study. Each item is scored from 1-7 based on 
level of independence, where 1 represents total dependence and 7 indicates complete independence.  The 
FIM scale is used to measure the patient’s progress and assess rehabilitation outcomes.  It takes 
approximately 15 minutes for the physical therapist to administer the tests for each patient. 
 
4.4 
Data Collection  
Primary Outcome – Pain 
Pain - Pain will be measured by the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (36).  (SF-MPQ, version 2) 
and the Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS, which entails a 0-10 numeric rating scale 
along with step-function visual cues, color-coded visual cues, and verbal descriptors of pain intensity).  
The specific aim is the 24-hour pain severity as measured by the SF-MPQ.  The DVPRS will be used to 
assess (i) “rebound pain” for pain with movement, compared with baseline, during and after nerve block 
analgesic effects are experienced and (ii) “block duration” (11) for time interval between block 
placement and peak postoperative DVPRS score with movement. 
 
Exploratory Outcomes – Physical Function, Other Symptoms, and Recovery from Anesthesia 
Data will be recorded by the research coordinator and/or VAPHS Staff Physical Therapists and/or 
“without compensation” (WOC) physical therapists hired through the University of Pittsburgh 
specifically for the care of study patients.   
 
Data Management System 
Data management will be coordinated at VAPHS by StatCore.  Data entry will be primarily performed 
using the VA’s REDCap software 
(https://vhacdwweb05.vha.med.va.gov/redcap_v6.0.27/index.php?pid=1440) via laptop or desktop 
personal computers.  Data will never reside on the data collection devices, which serve only as portals to 
the password protected database.  Only authorized members of the study team will have access.  Data 
will reside on the VA Informatics & Computing Infrastructure (VINCI) server – which is also password 
protected and independent from all other servers. Data will be downloaded from the REDCap server by 
StatCore for analytic and data management purposes.  Downloaded data will reside on a password-
protected VAPHS secure shared drive. REDCap is a secure web-based platform that can only be 
accessed through the VA intranet, and it is situated behind the VA firewall. Account login information is 
required, and then the data are stored on the REDCap server. The data to be entered (and catalogued in a 
detailed data dictionary) are password-protected within REDCap via login requirements, and the 
downloaded data are secured by permission only access to the shared drive 
(\\vhapthshare\Nerve_Block_Study\). 
 


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Data collection forms have been designed as paper documents (in Microsoft Word) to allow the full 
research team to collaborate on content; these paper documents are also being submitted to regulatory 
(IRB, FDA) and sponsoring (DoD) entities.  If modifications to the data collection forms are required, 
StatCore will maintain versioning control (for both paper versions and the REDCap versions) so that 
new form versions will be released with prior announcement, a clear and dated history of changes will be 
maintained, and the final dataset will contain compatible data for analysis. 
 
Across all data collection forms, point-of-entry data checks will be developed to ensure complete and 
accurate data, ensuring appropriate data precision, guarding against missing or out-of-range data, and 
prompting for correction of illogical data (e.g.  post-surgical procedures dated prior to surgery date).  
Branching logic will be used as is feasible to ensure that only relevant questions are presented (e.g.  if 
the question “Ever smoked cigarettes?” is answered “No”, subsequent questions about smoking history 
are skipped).  The system maintains a full audit trail, identifying each change to the entered data both by 
date/time and person, and recording both prior and current values, to ensure recovery of inadvertently 
changed data.  It also provides user roles that define read, write, change, and delete privileges on an 
individual data collection form basis. 
 
Documentation 
Working with the study PIs and coordinators, the Clinical Trial Center and StatCore will finalize a 
Manual of Operating Procedures (MOP, currently in draft phase) to standardize all procedures and staff 
training in areas such as patient recruitment, measurement, and assessment, as well as data entry, 
management, and security.   
A comprehensive data dictionary and code book has been created during study startup, and will be 
maintained throughout the study, logging any data field changes or coding changes.  This dictionary will 
identify and characterize all fields available for analysis, and will provide a useful reference document 
for continuing analysis of the study data.  We anticipate that the final versions of the MOP and data 
dictionary will be available for regulatory or related reviews approximately 12-15 months after study 
inception. 
 
Confidentiality and Identifiers 
All study subjects will be assigned unique study identifiers that will be used to identify all data stored 
within the data management system.  The identifiers will contain no names, social security numbers, or 
medical record numbers.  Patient contact information will be maintained by the study coordinator in 
locked files separate from the research data.  No personal information concerning study participants will 
be released without participants’ written consent, and participants will not be identified by name in any 
publication of research results. 
 
5.0       Statistical Analysis 
 
5.1        Analysis Plan 
Data will first be assessed for outliers (+/- 2 SD from the mean) and normality. Outliers will be 
corrected, if possible, or dropped from the analyses. Distribution, measures of central tendency, 
variability, and normality will be examined. Data transformations or non-parametric techniques will be 
applied as needed. We will delete observations with missing values. Spearman correlation coefficients 
will be computed to examine associations between nerve block drug treatments, replacement surgery 


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type (hip versus knee), and the outcome measures (SF-MPQ, SF-8, SF- 36, WOMAC, FIM, repeated 
chair stand test, Opioid Symptom Distress Scale, Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale and its 
Supplemental Questions) from all time points (1 day, 2 day, 3 day, 4 day, Follow-Up Visit 1, Follow-Up 
Visit 2). Associations between the outcomes across time points will also be examined with Pearson (SF-
MPQ, SF-8, SF-36, WOMAC, repeated chair stand test, Opioid Symptom Distress Scale) and Spearman 
(FIM, Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale and its Supplemental Questions) correlation coefficients.  
We will test all hypotheses and aims by conducting longitudinal multi-level modeling. The level-one 
unit will be the repeated measures across time, the level-two unit will be the individual patient, and the 
level-three unit will be nerve block type and surgical site (knee versus hip) groupings (with additional 
analyses involving age and diabetes status, reflecting the randomization strata). This mixed model 
procedure will allow the assessment of outcome and exposure variables relationships while adjusting for 
covariates, and separate assessments of fixed and random effects (i.e., group and individual-level data) 
using highly correlated repeated measures data. Covariates included in modeling will be age, diabetes 
status, gender, weight, smoking status, initial health status (e.g., baseline SF-8 / SF-36 and WOMAC), 
and concurrent general health status (e.g., daily SF-8, subsequent SF-36, and WOMAC).   
 
The primary hypothesis of an improvement in pain (measured by the SF-MPQ- version 2) 24 hr after 
surgery during in-hospital recovery comparing plain local anesthetics versus ISOC MMPNA will be 
tested using a mixed model. This procedure will test for nerve block drug treatment and surgical site (hip 
versus knee) effects, as well as an interaction between them. Differences in pain levels will also be 
examined across the study’s day-of surgery, 1, 2, 3, and 4 day, and Follow-Up Visit 1 and Follow-Up 
Visit 2 time points.  The secondary aims of short- and long-term physical therapy and rehabilitation-
related benefits will also be examined for nerve block drug treatment and surgical site by a mixed model. 
The tertiary aim to determine differences in opioid-related side effects will use a mixed model. As with 
other analyses, there will be an examination for nerve block drug treatment and surgical site effects, as 
well as an interaction between them, along with analyses of the other randomization strata (age, 
diabetes) as described above.  
 
The exploratory aims of physical therapy progress, return-to-home benefits, etc. will be examined using 
a mixed model. This procedure will test for nerve block type and surgical site effects, as well as an 
interaction between them. Number of days from the joint replacement procedure to the patient’s home 
discharge will be assessed. Pain responses, as measured by the SF-MPQ – version 2, and use of 
postoperative opioids with additional measurement by the Opioid-Related Symptom Distress Scale will 
also be assessed. General health status will be evaluated with the SF-8 and SF-36. Measures of pain, 
analgesic side-effects, and general health status will be covariates included in the modeling of the effect 
of MMPNA on return-to-home.  
 
Only after all data are analyzed and results are checked and verified by the biostatisticians will the study 
be unblinded.  
 
5.2   Adverse Events.  For adverse events, we will calculate cumulative probability using survival 
analysis techniques such as the product-limit estimator.  Unlike proportions, product-limit estimators can 
be applied at various times following randomization, and can take into account when adverse events 
occur.  The six-week incidence (and 95% CI) of individual adverse events by organ system and 
relatedness to the study will be calculated for each group. We will estimate the incidence of adverse 


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events in both groups with specific focus on those deemed definitely, probably, or possibly related to 
interventions. For adverse events, clinical judgments will be considered more important than statistical 
testing.  
 
Prolonged analgesic duration  Sustained / prolonged nerve block analgesia, which we hypothesize to be 
true in our ISOC MMPNA Group, is NOT a complication that warrants medical attention as a possible 
complication.  That this is NOT a complication is especially true in the context of perineural analgesia 
being designed to facilitate postoperative physical therapy in the first few days after surgery.  In our 
evaluation of analgesic duration, a central question for patients will be “when did you first take a 
prescription opioid pain pill, but it did not help?”  Another (indicating even further pain severity) is 
“when did you first get an intravenous opioid dose, but it did not help?  The dates and times of these 
events are important and clinically practical indicators that the perineural analgesia is no longer 
effective.  This is because postoperative oral multimodal analgesia is designed to (i) supplement the 
lingering analgesic effects of the nerve block, and (ii) delay the onset of the peak pain score encountered 
after the perineural analgesia “wears off.”  “Peak rebound pain scores” may not necessarily entail 
excruciating pain.  But if excruciating pain is encountered despite oral and intravenous opioids, then it is 
likely that there is no persisting perineural analgesia.  Conceptually, when combining CBD with 
bupivacaine (in the ISOC MMPNA group), the bupivacaine provides short-lived numbness and 
analgesia (e.g., a theoretical 12-16 hr), but the CBD likely sustains perineural analgesia without 
numbness (e.g., for an additional theoretical 24 hr).  The study is designed to accurately capture these 
two separate phases of analgesia, since we do not have preliminary data on these separate phenomena 
(analgesia with numbness, then analgesia without numbness). 
 
Prolonged numbness in the distribution of the nerve blocks  If a patient encounters numbness and 
weakness for an extended period of time after a nerve block is given, then certainly serious consideration 
is given to the possibility of nerve damage from surgery, nerve block, other factors, or a combination of 
these.  We do not have any preliminary data indicating the duration of numbness as a separate entity 
from the duration of analgesia.  In our preliminary data (published), the analgesic duration (with or 
without numbness) upper bound of the 95% confidence interval is 49 hr.  By definition, the 95% interval 
(30-49 hr) is the interval representing that we are confident that the mean lies within this interval 95% of 
the time.  So with the conservative 48 or 49 hr “upper bound” as the possible mean, and with a standard 
deviation of analgesic duration being 14 hr, we will apply a “mean and standard deviation” principle of 
“nerve damage” possibility.  If the mean is 48 hr, and the standard deviation is 14 hr, then 97.5% of 
these nerve blocks’ numbness will dissipate by 76 hr (i.e., mean plus 2 standard deviations).  For 
simplicity, if any patient has numbness (i.e., both analgesia and numbness, but not analgesia without 
numbness), beyond 72-76 hr after injection, then the participant will be referred (presumably while still 
in the hospital) to the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service for initial evaluation, with 
subsequent referral to neurosurgery if deemed appropriate based on electromyography (EMG), imaging, 
or other workup.  If minor symptoms of paresthesiae with pain and/or weakness persist over time, 
patients will be similarly referred to the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service for outpatient 
workup, and these events will be recorded in study logs. 
 
ISOC MMPNA Nerve Blocks From July 1, 2011 until December 31, 2014, there were a total of 1830 
patient-block encounters involving our ISOC MMPNA program, entailing the routine use of 3-4 drugs in 
peripheral nerve blocks.  At our institution, the incidence of EMG-documented nerve damage 


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attributable to the precise needle location of the block was 2/1830 (0.11%), and attributable to the 
precise or approximate needle location of the block was 4/1830 (0.22%).  Additionally, there were 2 
cases (0.11%) of postoperative EMG findings that could neither rule out nor confirm nerve damage 
attributable to the needle location of the block.  There were also 6 cases of postoperative EMGs 
performed where the original suspicion of block-related nerve damage was indeed negative per EMG.  
Therefore, of 12 EMGs ordered, 6-8 were unable to localize nerve damage to the needle injection site.  
There were, separately reviewed, 7 cases of abnormal postoperative physical exam findings that were 
judged to be “possibly block related,” for which there was no EMG ordered to appropriately evaluate.  
Based on the proportions described above, we will assume that if these 7 had EMGs ordered, 3 may have 
proven to be positive.  Therefore, in our conservative estimation, the risk of nerve damage that has been 
(or may be) traceable to the site of nerve block injection is 9/1830, or 0.5%.  The 95% confidence 
interval of this incidence is 0.24% to 0.97%.  In literature review, the risk of nerve damage from hip 
replacement ranges from 0.2% to 8% (Zappe 2014, Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 134:1477-1482).  Our 
95% confidence interval of the incidence of EMG-documented nerve damage (0.24% - 0.97%) lies 
precisely at the low end of this range.  Meanwhile, contemporary estimates of risk of peripheral nerve 
block (PNB) anesthesia have been cited as follows.  For common PNB techniques entailing the use of 
plain local anesthetics, the rate of neuropathy after interscalene brachial plexus block, axillary brachial 
plexus block, and femoral nerve block is reported as 2.84% (95% CI 1.33-5.98%), 1.48% (95% CI: 0.52-
4.11%), and 0.34% (95% CI: 0.04-2.81%), respectively, based on detailed review of prospective 
randomized studies-to-date (as of 2007; n=10,309; Brull 2007, Anesth Analg 104:965-974).  In another 
single-institution study of 1010 consecutive peripheral nerve blocks with plain local anesthetics, new, 
all-cause, neurological symptoms were present in 56/690 blocks (8.2%; 95% CI: 6.8-10.2%) at day 10, 
37/1010 (3.7%; 95% CI: 2.7-5.0%) at 1 month, and 6/1010 (0.6%; 95% CI: 0.27-1.3%) at 6 months 
(Fredrickson 2009, Anaesthesia 64:836-844). Most symptoms (Fredrickson study) were due to causes 
unrelated to the block: 4 of 1010 were ultimately unrelated to the block, but for the other 2:1010 (0.2%), 
attribution to the block could not be ruled out.  Based on the literature review described above, our 95% 
CI of 0.24%-0.97% for long-term complications (traced by EMG to the nerve block injection site) 
associated with our ISOC MMPNA (the 4-drug single-injection nerve blocks) falls within the 95% CI of 
published studies (lower bound of the 95% confidence interval being as low as 0.04%, and upper bound 
of the 95% confidence interval being as high as 5.98%) for nerve blocks using solely local anesthetics 
without other perineural adjuvants.  We have no evidence to indicate that our ISOC MMPNA use is 
unsafe in the context of standard rates of complications when using plain local anesthetics, or in the 
context of undergoing surgery. 
 
5.3    Incidental Findings.   
All instances of incidental findings considered to be clinically significant will be addressed in the 
following manner:  the PI will determine whether a finding is significant to warrant further action.  If the 
PI determines the finding is serious enough to be labeled an adverse event; then the issue will be 
addressed with the patient’s primary care physician or another specialist.  If the finding is not a serious 
event, then it will be listed as ‘incidental’ and no further action will be taken. 
 
NOTE: The study team will capture the study data using CRFs that have been created by the study team. 
All hard copy documents will be protected and stored using generally-accepted measures for research 
confidentiality. 
 


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5.4    Interim Analysis.   
During the course of a clinical trial, there is an ethical mandate to monitor the progress of the trial with 
interim analyses to ensure patient safety.  A number of group sequential methods have been developed 
which permit comparisons to be made, while maintaining an overall type I error rate.  The investigators 
will work with the Data and Safety Monitoring Board to select an interim monitoring approach.  It is 
likely that an approach which adjusts the type I error rate in a non-uniform fashion, so that the majority 
of the type I error is conserved for the final treatment comparison.  Thus, a large difference would be 
needed early in the trial to find a significant difference.  Statistical significance parameters will be 
appropriately adjusted to account for these multiple interim analyses.  At his time, the interim analyses 
are projected to occur (separately for TKA and for THA) at 5/20 patients and at 10/40 patients.  If at 
these points the specific aims have been met (for the ISOC MMPNA treatment), then the Data Safety 
Monitoring Board will be charged with the decision to terminate the study.  
 
5.5   Dissemination of Results.   
The whole research team will engage in the interpretation of the study results. VAPHS will be able to 
disseminate the research results through email newsletters to their providers. The team will be able to 
present the research findings at regional provider meetings and major professional conferences 
including: American Society of Anesthesiologists, American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain 
Medicine, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, American Physical Therapy Association, and 
American College of Rheumatology. The findings will be published in peer reviewed journals with 
appropriate access to the end user. 
 
5.6        Sample Size Determination 
Although the SF-MPQ data is the basis of our specific aim, we do not have our own preliminary SF-
MPQ data. So we will base our sample size on our most robust data, that being nerve block duration 
from our observational data (40 hr mean, with 14 hr standard deviation). Hip replacement and knee 
replacement surgery are different procedures requiring anatomically different nerve blocks as described 
above, so we will consider these samples as separate. We consider a doubling of the nerve block 
duration (15 hr for plain bupivacaine, 30 hr for bupivacaine-CBD) as a clinically significant difference 
with respect to the military objectives of evacuation and transport. We forecast that as a single-drug (and 
based on historical literature), the standard deviation of plain bupivacaine duration would be half of the 
15 hr projected duration (i.e., 7.5 hr). Due to likely variability in study participant responsiveness to the 
4-drug mixture, we predict that the standard deviation of the bupivacaine-CBD treatment would also be 
half of the projected 30 hr duration (i.e., 15 hr). We believe that the 30 (SD=15) hr duration for 
bupivacaine-CBD is a reasonably conservative duration based on our preliminary data of 40 (14) hr 
block duration. Using a 2-tailed t-test with α=0.05, 20 patients per procedure for bupivacaine treatment, 
and 80 patients per bupivacaine-CBD treatment would yield 95% statistical power. This sample size will 
also accommodate for our multiple secondary aims. Attrition of 6 active control treatment patients 
(n=14) and of 24 MMPNA-treated patients (n=56) will still yield just over 80% statistical power. All 
calculations were performed using IBM SPSS SamplePower version 3.0.1, Chicago, IL. 
 
6.0 
Subject Population   
 
6.1 
General Characteristics 
This study will enroll veterans undergoing a total knee or hip replacement, no older than age 85. 


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6.2 
Vulnerable Subjects and Special Populations 
Vulnerable subjects will not be enrolled into this research study. 
 
6.3 
Incompetent Subjects 
Incompetent subjects will not be enrolled into this research study.   
 
6.4 
Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria 
 
Inclusion Criteria: 
Subjects must meet all of the following inclusion criteria to be eligible for participation in this study. 
1. Age between 18 and 85, and undergoing a total knee or hip replacement. 
2. Fluent in English, decision competent, willing and able to provide written informed consent, and 
able to complete the study’s schedule of assessments. 
3. Able to walk >3m without an assisting device. 
4. Have a BMI ≤ 40 kg/m2. 
 
Exclusion Criteria: 
Subjects who meet any of the following exclusion criteria will not be enrolled in this study. 
1. Current participation in another orthopedic/PT/rehab/anesthesiology interventional clinical trial. 
2. Are at significant behavioral risks or have refractory major psychiatric disorders. 
3. Revision surgery on the same extremity. 
4. Have an ASA Physical Status classification of 4 or higher. 
5. Have been diagnosed with clinically significant neuropathy with its origins in either diabetes or 
other causes; have neuromuscular disease that would influence data collection. 
6. Have a surgically-fused lumbar spine, or a spinal cord simulator, or other condition that would 
contraindicate or prohibit the conduct of spinal anesthesia. 
7. At significant risk for postoperative substance abuse, or immediate-postoperative substance 
abuse withdrawal symptoms (alcohol, cocaine, enrolled in methadone or buprenorphine opioid 
withdrawal programs, etc.).  Previous or current use of marijuana will not be an exclusion for 
study enrollment. 
8. Are undergoing TKA/THA for a tumor. 
9. Have contraindications (e.g., anaphylaxis) to any of the study drugs. 
10. Have a systemic fungal infection. 
11. Have a known hypersensitivity to bupivacaine hydrochloride or to any local anesthetic of the 
amide-type or to other components of bupivacaine hydrochloride solutions. 
12. Have a known or suspected buprenorphine hypersensitivity (not including nausea and/or 
vomiting). 
13. Have a GI obstruction. 
14. Have paralytic ileus. 
15. Pregnant women 
16. Have had a kidney or liver transplant. 
 
Veteran subjects will not be excluded from participation based on smoking status, diagnosis of 
obstructive sleep apnea, or baseline monitored consumption of therapeutic opioids for documented 


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medical indications; instead, these variables will be codified and quantified for subsequent covariate 
statistical analysis.  Prior to study enrollment, the principal investigator has the final decision regarding 
patient eligibility.  
 
Pregnancy is an exclusion criterion for surgery and is checked by the clinical team. The Research team 
will confirm that the pregnancy test has been done (where applicable). 
 
6.5 
Recruitment Procedures 
The study team (typically the coordinator) will prescreen patients from both the orthopedic and IMPACT 
clinics.   If the coordinator finds a patient that may be eligible, the coordinator will contact a member of 
the patient’s clinical care team (orthopedics/surgical team or IMPACT clinic team).  The patient will 
then be approached by a member of their clinical care team to see if they are interested in participating in 
research opportunities. If the patient expresses interest and agrees to be contacted by the study team, the 
study team will be notified via a phone call or encrypted email.  Once notified, the study team will either 
provide the patient with the ICF to take home and review or will call the patient and send the consent 
form in the mail for them to review.  The study team will let the patient know that s/he can call at any 
time with questions to help aid in the decision, and that the study team will be calling the patient in a few 
days after s/he has had time to review the ICF, and/or to declare interest and/or ask questions.  If the 
patient is interested, the study team will schedule the potential participant for their screening/baseline 
visit, at which time ICF completion will occur.   
 
If the patient is scheduled for an eConsult IMPACT clinic visit, the study team will schedule the patient 
to come in for a research only visit to complete the screening/baseline visit.  If the patient is already 
scheduled for a face-to-face IMPACT clinic visit, the study team will ask the patient if they wish to 
complete the screening/baseline visit on the same day or would they prefer to schedule a separate visit, 
since the estimated research visit is expected to take approximately three (3) hours.  The consent process 
will occur in an empty room, or, if the potential participant is not ambulatory, the curtain will be drawn 
and the discussion will be kept quiet to ensure patient confidentiality.  The patient may take time to 
review this with family.  One of the physician-investigators- will make final determination of eligibility 
of subjects. A subject can sign the consent form, but after physician review, the potential participant may 
be declared ineligible. 
 
6.6 
Informed Consent 
Prior to any study procedures being performed, each patient must sign the informed consent form and 
HIPAA form (pending HIPAA waiver applications), this includes any screening procedures.  Only 
English speaking subjects will be enrolled into this study. 
 
7.0 Risks/Benefits  
 
7.1 Potential Risks 
Risks of Physical Therapy Testing 
The risks associated with the battery of physical tests do not in our estimation differ from those used in 
our ISOC.  General risks may include temporary muscle soreness (common: 10 to 25 out of 100 people), 
an exacerbation of knee/hip pain and inflammation (rare: less than 1 out of 100 people), or tripping and 
falling during testing (rare: less than 1 out of 100 people). During testing, risks of tripping and falling 


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will be minimized by our team providing direct stand-by supervision with trained testers. Signs and 
symptoms of knee/hip inflammation will be monitored before and after each testing visit. If knee 
inflammation occurs, subjects will be referred to their physician for evaluation. Because subjects will 
participate in physical tests, there is a rare risk (less than 1 out of 100 people) that they may experience 
chest pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, heart attack, or stroke. To minimize this risk, we will follow 
the recommendations from the American College of Sports Medicine and American Heart Association 
(ACSM/AHA) guidelines for physical testing. As with any experimental procedure, there may be 
adverse events or side effects that are currently unknown, and some of these unknown risks could be 
permanent, severe or life-threatening. 
 
Risks of Anesthesia and/or Physical Therapy 
Likely- occurs in more than 25% of people (more than 25 out of 100 people):  None listed above and 
beyond those listed in the consent forms for surgery and anesthesia, and/or consistent with standard of 
care for surgery, anesthesia, and physical therapy at our institution. 
 
Common – occurs in 1% to 25% of people (1 to 25 out of 100 people): the possibility of subjects in the 
Active Control group temporarily requiring more oral analgesics than subjects assigned to the ISOC 
MMPNA treatment group.  Otherwise, none listed above and beyond those listed in the consent forms 
for surgery and anesthesia, and/or consistent with standard of care at our institution. 
 
Rare – occurs in less than 1% of people (less than 1 out of 100 people). Regarding goniometry testing: 
possible pain or strain of the knee.  Regarding the nerve block: bleeding, infection, and/or nerve damage.  
Otherwise, none listed above and beyond those listed in the consent forms for surgery and anesthesia, 
and/or consistent with our ISOC. 
 
Data Security  
All case report forms (CRF) will remain on-site at VAPHS, and REDCap data will remain 
behind the VA firewall on the VINCI server.  Any paper CRFs will be kept in a locked cabinet in 
the study coordinator’s locked office at VAPHS, University Drive Division.  Only authorized 
members of the study team will be allowed to access the study documents (hard-copy or 
automated).  All electronic medical record data within the standard of care will be stored on 
CPRS within the VAPHS network, while all de-identified study-specific data is stored securely 
on the VINCI server, as previously described.  
 
Any loss or compromise of any VA sensitive information (including research data), VA 
equipment or device, or any non-VA equipment or device that is used to transport, access, or 
store VA information will be reported in accordance with the reporting requirements outlined in 
VA Handbook 6500. 
 
All research records will be maintained in accordance with the Veterans Health Administration 
(VHA) Records Control Schedule. Paper records will be disposed of using methods deemed 
appropriate by the VAPHS Privacy Officer, and all electronic data will be sanitized using 
methods rendered appropriate by the VAPHS ISO. 
 
7.2   Potential Benefits:  


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Subjects will receive no apparent direct benefit from their participation in this research study.  The 
information obtained from this study may lead to our recommending specific pain management 
techniques to allow a more prompt return to normal activities of daily living and a better outcome from 
physical therapy.  
 
7.3   Alternative Procedures:  
If potential subjects decide not to participate in this research study, they will undergo TKA/THA surgery 
and be offered the routine choices of anesthetic currently offered to our patients undergoing the same 
procedure.  The same spinal and MMPNA nerve block techniques are used as our ISOC.  For TKA 
patients that have spine-specific contraindications, there are other ISOC nerve block techniques used 
(e.g., the psoas compartment lumbar plexus and sciatic nerve blocks for surgical anesthesia and 
postoperative analgesia, or “lum-sci” for short).  It is conceivable that TKA patients (opting not to 
participate in the study) without spine abnormalities may be offered a lum-sci as part of ISOC.  
However, this lum-sci block leads to a more profound postoperative numbness that can preclude the 
study-specific physical therapy protocol from reliably commencing on the morning of postoperative day 
1.  THA routinely involves spinal anesthesia (and the described ISOC MMPNA blocks) if there are no 
contraindications (to the spinal such as previous spine fusion or spinal cord stimulator), depending on 
the clinical situation and other health status factors.  Local anesthetics used for our routine nerve blocks 
(i.e., bupivacaine, for patients not participating in the study) are the same as those used in the study (both 
ISOC MMPNA and Active Control).  In our ISOC, nerve block patients receive all 4 drugs in the nerve 
blocks (the local anesthetic and the 3 other CBD drugs), even though we do not know (by formal study) 
if the 4-drug nerve block gives longer-acting pain relief, or longer-acting unwanted numbness, than does 
the nerve block with use of only the local anesthetic.  Patients may have a history of allergy to 
Novocain®; our nerve blocks do not use Novocain itself, and so the risk of allergy from other local 
anesthetics that we use for patients is exceedingly rare.  Many medical centers performing TKA/THA 
surgery do not routinely offer patients a choice in anesthesia technique, and most medical centers do not 
offer nerve blocks of any kind for TKA/THA surgery.  However, MMPNA nerve blocks are the ISOC at 
VAPHS, and the anesthesia doctors who perform these nerve blocks here are very well-experienced. 
 
7.4   Costs and Payments 
Subjects will not be required to pay for any services outside of the VHA that may be required as part of 
participating in this research study. 
 
Patients will be compensated $20.00 for completing the pre-surgery questionnaires and physical therapy 
tests, $20.00 total for the tests completed while the patient is in the hospital and then $60.00 when they 
complete the study tests at follow-up visit 2 after their surgery (Possible total per patient of $100.00 if 
they complete all study visits). 
 
8.0  Data Safety Monitoring 
External DSMB 
An external DSMB (through the Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) at the 
University of Pittsburgh) will review the progress of the study and perform interim reviews of 
safety data in order to protect subject welfare and preserve study integrity.  Termination or 
modification may be recommended for any perceived safety concern based on clinical judgment, 


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including but not limited to a higher than anticipated rate for any component of the primary 
endpoint resulting in adverse events, or unexpected SAEs.   
 
An initial meeting of the DSMB will be held prior to any subject enrollment in the study in order 
for the members to review the charter, to form an understanding of the protocol and definitions 
being used, to establish a meeting schedule, and to review the study modification and/or 
termination guidelines. Subsequent interim and final review meetings will be held to review and 
discuss interim and final study data (adverse events, protocol deviations, enrollment summary 
and tables for overall primary and secondary endpoints).  Frequency of meetings will be every six 
months, unless the board determines otherwise.  
 
Local DSMB 
Locally, a data and safety monitoring plan will be implemented to ensure that there are no 
changes in the benefit/risk ratio during the study and that confidentiality of research data is 
maintained. It will meet as needed to discuss the study (e.g., study goals, progress, modifications, 
documentation, recruitment, retention, data analysis and confidentiality) and address any issues 
or concerns.  The principal investigator, clinical coordinator and research staff, will take part in 
these discussions. These will occur on an as needed basis but at least twice a year. Any instances 
of adverse events, protocol deviations, or other problems identified during the discussions will be 
reported as soon as possible within the required reporting timeframes using the standard forms 
and/or procedures set forth by the IRB. In addition, clinical coordinators may review study 
documentation and/or consent forms to ensure that subject’s confidentiality is maintained. 
 
9.0 
Adverse Event Reporting 
9.1       Adverse event definitions   
Adverse event means any untoward medical occurrence associated with the use of the drug in humans, 
whether or not considered drug related. 
 
Adverse reaction means any adverse event caused by a drug. 
 
Suspected adverse reaction means any adverse event for which there is a reasonable possibility that the 
drug caused the adverse event.  Suspected adverse reaction implies a lesser degree of certainty about 
causality than “adverse reaction” 
 
• Reasonable possibility.  For the purpose of IND safety reporting, “reasonable possibility” 
means there is evidence to suggest a causal relationship between the drug and the adverse 
event. 
 
Life-threatening, suspected adverse reaction.  A suspected adverse reaction is considered “life-
threatening” if, in the view of either the Investigator (i.e., the study site PI) or Sponsor, its occurrence 
places the patient or research subject at immediate risk of death.  It does not include a suspected adverse 
reaction that had it occurred in a more severe form, might have caused death. 
 
Serious, suspected adverse reaction. A suspected adverse reaction is considered “serious” if, in the view 
of the Investigator (i.e., the study site PI) or Sponsor, it results in any of the following outcomes: death, a 


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life-threatening adverse reaction, inpatient hospitalization or prolongation of existing hospitalization, a 
persistent or significant incapacity or substantial disruption of the ability to conduct normal life 
functions, or a congenital anomaly/birth defect. 
 
• Important drug-related medical events that may not result in death, be life-threatening, or 
require hospitalization may be considered “serious” when, based upon appropriate 
medical judgment, they may jeopardize the research subject and may require medical or 
surgical intervention to prevent one of the outcomes listed in this definition.  Examples of 
such medical events include allergic bronchospasm requiring intensive treatment in the 
emergency room or at home, blood dyscrasias or convulsions that do not result in 
inpatient hospitalization, or the development of drug dependency or drug abuse. 
 
Unexpected, suspected adverse reaction.  A suspected adverse reaction is considered “unexpected” if it 
is not listed in the general investigational plan, clinical protocol, or elsewhere in the current IND 
application; or is not listed at the specificity or severity that has been previously observed and/or 
specified.  
 
9.2    Recording/Reporting requirements  
 
Eliciting adverse event information 
Research subjects will be routinely questioned about adverse events throughout their hospital stay and at 
study visits. 
 
Recording requirements   
All observed or volunteered adverse events (serious or non-serious) and abnormal test findings, 
regardless of study group or suspected causal relationship to the study drug(s) will be recorded in the 
subjects’ case histories.  For all adverse events, sufficient information will be pursued and/or obtained so 
as to permit 1) an adequate determination of the outcome of the event (i.e., whether the event should be 
classified as a serious adverse event) and; 2)  an assessment of the casual relationship between the 
adverse event and the study drug(s).    
 
Adverse events or abnormal test findings felt to be associated with the study drug(s) will be followed 
until the event (or its sequelae) or the abnormal test finding resolves or stabilizes at a level acceptable to 
the Sponsor-Investigator. 
 
Abnormal test findings   
An abnormal test finding will be classified as an adverse event if one or more of the following criteria 
are met: 
• 
The test finding is accompanied by clinical symptoms 
• 
The test finding necessitates additional diagnostic evaluation(s) or 
medical/surgical intervention; including significant additional concomitant 
drug treatment or other therapy  
o Note: simply repeating a test finding, in the absence of any of the other 
listed criteria, does not constitute an adverse event.   


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• 
The test finding leads to a change in study drug dosing or discontinuation of 
subject participation in the clinical research study 
• 
The test finding is considered an adverse event by the Sponsor-Investigator of 
the IND application 
 
 
Causality and severity assessment   
The Sponsor-Investigator of the IND application will promptly review documented adverse events and 
abnormal test findings to determine 1) if the abnormal test finding should be classified as an adverse 
event; 2) if there is a reasonable possibility that the adverse event was caused by the study drug(s); and 
3) if the adverse event meets the criteria for a serious adverse event. 
 
If the Sponsor-Investigator’s final determination of causality is “unknown and of questionable 
relationship to the study drug(s)”, the adverse event will be classified as associated with the use of the 
study drug(s) for reporting purposes.  If the Sponsor-Investigator’s final determination of causality is 
“unknown but not related to the study drug(s)”, this determination and the rationale for the determination 
will be documented in the respective subject’s case history.  
 
9.3  Reporting of adverse reactions   
 
Reporting of adverse reactions to the FDA  
 
Written IND Safety Reports 
The Sponsor-Investigator will submit a written IND Safety Report (i.e., completed FDA Form 3500 A) 
to the responsible new drug review division of the FDA for any observed or volunteered adverse event 
that is determined to be a serious and unexpected, suspected adverse reaction.  Each IND Safety Report 
will be prominently labeled, “IND Safety Report”, and a copy will be provided to all participating 
investigators (if applicable) and sub-investigators.   
 
Written IND Safety Reports will be submitted to the FDA as soon as possible and, in no event, later than 
15 calendar days following the Sponsor-Investigator’s receipt of the respective adverse event 
information and determination that it meets the respective criteria for reporting. 
 
For each written IND Safety Report, the Sponsor-Investigator will identify all previously submitted IND 
Safety Reports that addressed a similar suspected adverse reaction experience and will provide an 
analysis of the significance of newly reported, suspected adverse reaction in light of the previous, similar 
report(s) or any other relevant information. 
 
Relevant follow-up information to an IND Safety Report will be submitted to the applicable review 
division of the FDA as soon as the information is available and will be identified as such (i.e., “Follow-
up IND Safety Report”).   
 
If the results of the Sponsor-Investigator’s follow-up investigation show that an adverse event that was 
initially determined to not require a written IND Safety Report does, in fact, meet the requirements for 
reporting; the Sponsor-Investigator will submit a written IND Safety Report as soon as possible, but in 
no event later than 15 calendar days, after the determination was made. 


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Telephoned IND Safety Reports –  Fatal or life-threatening suspected adverse reactions 
In addition to the subsequent submission of a written IND Safety Report (i.e., completed FDA Form 
3500A), the Sponsor-Investigator will notify the responsible review division of the FDA by telephone or 
facsimile transmission of any unexpected, fatal or life-threatening suspected adverse reaction.  
 
The telephone or facsimile transmission of applicable IND Safety Reports will be made as soon as 
possible but in no event later than 7 calendar days after the Sponsor-Investigator’s receipt of the 
respective adverse event information and determination that it meets the respective criteria for reporting. 
 
Reporting adverse events to the responsible IRB 
In accordance with applicable policies of the VAPHS Institutional Review Board and the University of 
Pittsburgh Institutional Review Board (IRB), the Sponsor-Investigator will report, to the IRB, any 
observed or volunteered adverse event that is determined to be 1) associated with the investigational 
drug or study treatment(s); 2) serious; and 3) unexpected.  Adverse event reports will be submitted to the 
IRB in accordance with the respective IRB procedures.  
 
Applicable adverse events will be reported to the IRB as soon as possible and, in no event, later than 10 
calendar days following the sponsor-investigator’s receipt of the respective information.  Adverse events 
which are 1) associated with the investigational drug or study treatment(s); 2) fatal or life-threatening; 
and 3) unexpected will be reported to the IRB within 24 hours of the Sponsor-Investigator’s receipt of 
the respective information.  
 
Follow-up information to a reported adverse event will be submitted to the IRB as soon as the relevant 
information is available.  If the results of the Sponsor-Investigator’s follow-up investigation show that an 
adverse event that was initially determined to not require reporting to the IRB does, in fact, meet the 
requirements for reporting; the Sponsor-Investigator will report the adverse event to the IRB as soon as 
possible, but in no event later than 10 calendar days, after the determination was made. 
 
Reporting adverse events to the Independent Research Monitor 
The Independent Research Monitor for this research study is Michael Mangione, MD.  The Research 
Monitor shall be responsible for evaluating any risks or concerns of the research and to report findings to 
the IRB.  The Independent Research Monitor will have the authority to stop this research protocol, 
remove individual human subjects from the research protocol, and take whatever steps are necessary to 
protect the safety and well-being of human subjects until the IRB can assess the monitor’s report.  The 
research monitor is required to review all unanticipated problems involving risk to subjects or others, 
serious adverse events and all subject deaths associated with the protocol and provide an unbiased 
written report of the event.  At a minimum, the research monitor must comment on the outcomes of the 
event or problem and in case of a serious adverse event or death, comment on the relationship to 
participation in the study.  The research monitor must also indicate whether he concurs with the details 
of the report provided by the principal investigator.  Reports for events determined by either the 
investigator or research monitor to be possibly or definitely related to participation and reports of events 
resulting in death must be promptly forwarded to the US Army Medical Research and Materiel 
Command (USAMRMC), Office of Research Protections (ORP), Human Research Protection Office 
(HRPO) 


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As the research monitor for this study, Dr. Mangione will be responsible for the following duties per his 
discretion and/or as required: 
- 
Reviewing monitoring plans and IDSMB reports 
- 
Overseeing study interventions and interactions 
- 
Observing recruitment and enrollment procedures, including the consent process 
- 
Overseeing data collection and analysis 
- 
Review of SAEs and unanticipated problems 
 
Reporting adverse events to USAMRMC ORP HRPO 
The following post-approval submissions must be reported to the USAMRMC ORP HRPO: 
 
             a.  Substantive modifications to the research protocol and any modifications that could 
potentially increase risk to subjects must be submitted to the HRPO for approval prior to 
implementation.  The USAMRMC ORP HRPO defines a substantive modification as a 
change in Principal Investigator, change or addition of an institution, elimination or alteration 
of the consent process, change in the IRB of Record, change to the study population that has 
regulatory implications (e.g. adding children, adding active duty population, etc.), significant 
change in study design (i.e. would prompt additional scientific review), or a change that 
could potentially increase risks to subjects. 
 
             b.  A copy of the IRB continuing review approval letter and continuing review report must be 
submitted to the HRPO as soon as possible after receipt of approval. 
 
             c.  The final study report submitted to the IRB, including a copy of any acknowledgement 
documentation and any supporting documents, must be submitted to the HRPO as soon as all 
documents become available. 
 
             d.  The following study events must be promptly reported to the HRPO by telephone (301-619-
2165), by email (usarmy.detrick.medcom-usamrmc.other.hrpo@mail.mil<Caution-
mailto:usarmy.detrick.medcom-usamrmc.other.hrpo@mail.mil>), or by facsimile (301-619-
7803) or mail to the US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, ATTN:  MCMR-
RP, 810 Schreider Street, Fort Detrick, Maryland  21702-5000. 
 
                  (1)  All unanticipated problems involving risk to subjects or others. 
 
                  (2)  Suspensions, clinical holds (voluntary or involuntary), or terminations of this research by 
the IRB, the institution, the sponsor, or regulatory agencies. 
 
                  (3)  Any instances of serious or continuing noncompliance with the federal regulations or 
IRB requirements. 
 
                  (4)  The knowledge of any pending compliance inspection/visit by the Food and Drug 
Administration (FDA), Office for Human Research Protections, or other government agency 
concerning this clinical investigation or research. 


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                 (5)  The issuance of inspection reports, FDA Form 483, warning letters, or actions taken by 
any government regulatory agencies. 
 
                
(6)  Change in subject status when a previously enrolled human subject becomes a prisoner 
must be promptly reported to the USAMRMC ORP HRPO.  The report must include actions 
taken by the institution and the IRB. 
 
            e.  Events or protocol reports received by the HRPO that do not meet reporting requirements   
identified within this memorandum will be included in the HRPO study file but will not be 
acknowledged. 
 
Withdrawal of subjects due to adverse events 
The study drug is administered only once, at the time of the nerve block before surgery.  So no adverse 
event would involve “continuous receipt of study drugs.” 
 
We do not anticipate any withdrawn participants from the study, with the exception of those for which 
the anesthetic care plan was converted to GETA.  This is because (i) the nerve blocks and/or spinal 
failed, or (ii) that the nerve blocks and/or spinal were appropriate for the “typical” surgical procedure.  In 
further detail, the particular surgical procedure that was forced to a GETA anesthetic plan was likely 
atypically lengthy or complex, rendering the study case as likely not comparable to other 
enrolled/completed study participants.  Therefore, we do not anticipate any further data collection as 
being representative of a scientifically meaningful “intent-to-treat.”   
 
The basis of adverse event severity related to the study entails 1) association with the investigational 
drug or study treatment(s); 2) serious nature of the adverse event; and 3) unexpected nature of the 
adverse event.  The nerve block drug involved in the active control group (bupivacaine) to which the 
experimental group drugs are added (clonidine-buprenorphine-dexamethasone) are not expected to 
create untoward surgical events and/or blood loss complications since none of these drugs alter 
physiologic coagulation.  It is not anticipated that surgical complications that entail blood loss, of 
whatever severity, will be traceable to the nerve block treatment group.  However, we will still record 
and grade estimated blood loss of the surgical procedure (<500 mL, 500-1L, > 1L) and determine any 
potential associations with nerve block treatment group.     
 
Subjects withdrawn from study participation due to an adverse event will be replaced. 
 
10.0 
Resources 
The following VAPHS resources will be utilized: Investigational Drug Service (IDS), Clinical Trials 
Center (CTC) and the Surgery and Medical Service Lines.  StatCore and IDS will be used for 
randomization and the receipt, accountability, storage, preparation and dispensing of the study drugs, 
respectively.  The CTC will handle all regulatory and study coordinator activities.  The Surgery Service 
Line will be enlisted for preoperative (IMPACT Clinic), anesthesiology, and orthopedic resources, and 
the Medicine Service Line will be used for physical therapy resources.  
 
11.0 
Collaborations 


Page 35 of 48 
Protocol Version 09/12/2018 
The statistical analysis for this research study will be done in collaboration by VAPHS StatCore. 
Physical therapy testing at VAPHS will be conducted in conjunction with University of Pittsburgh-hired 
physical therapists in order to provide study-specific physical therapy coverage on weekends and/or after 
hours on weekdays. 
 
12.0 
Qualifications of the Investigators 
Brian A. Williams, MD, MBA:  Dr. Williams is a full-time VA employee, and is currently the Director 
of Ambulatory Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine Service/Regional Anesthesia at the VA 
Pittsburgh Healthcare System.  He is also a Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology at the 
University of Pittsburgh as well as their director of ambulatory anesthesia.  He has over 80 publications 
in his field and has been doing research for over 20 years. 
 
Sara R. Piva, PhD, PT:  Dr. Piva is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, 
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh.  She is also the Co-Director of 
the Physical Therapy- Clinical and Translational Research Center (PT-CTRC), funded by the Clinical 
and Translational Science Institute- NIH. Her research focuses on musculoskeletal rehabilitation to 
improve functional outcome in patients with arthritis. She has participated in several clinical trials of 
exercise in arthritis and has received funding from NIH, PCORI, and several research foundations and 
national professional associations. Dr. Piva has been published in over 40 peer reviewed papers on 
rehabilitation topics.  
 
Peter Z. Cohen, MD: Dr. Cohen has been practicing medicine for 51 years. Dr. Cohen graduated from 
the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in 1963. Dr. Cohen specializes in Orthopaedic Surgery 
and is the Chief of Orthopaedic Surgery at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System. 
 
James W. Ibinson, MD, PhD:  Dr. Ibinson is an Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology at the University 
of Pittsburgh.  He is currently active in research, and the chief focus of his research is functional 
magnetic resonance imaging of pain processing, regional anesthesia, and acute pain management.  He is 
one of six total anesthesiologist team members on the VAPHS Acute Pain Medicine Service / Block 
Team. 
 
Catalin S. Ezaru, MD, and Marsha Ritter-Jones, MD, PhD:  Drs. Ezaru and Ritter-Jones are both 
Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology at the University of Pittsburgh.   
 
Visala Muluk, MD:  Dr. Muluk is the Director of the IMPACT clinic at VAPHS and has taken part in 
various research studies at VAPHS. 
 


Page 36 of 48 
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13.0 
REFERENCES 
1. Hudson ME, Chelly JE, Williams BA. Economics: projecting costs and revenue for an 
interventional pain service in the ambulatory setting. Int Anesthesiol Clin. 2011;49(3):68-83. 
2. Memtsoudis SG, Sun X, Chiu Y-L, Stundner O, Liu SS, Banerjee S, et al. Perioperative 
comparative effectiveness of anesthetic technique in orthopedic patients. Anesthesiology. 
2013;118(5):1046-58. 
3. Williams B, Neumann K, Goel S, Wu C. Postoperative Pain and other acute pain syndromes. In: 
Benzon HT, Rathmell JP, Wu CL, Turk DC, Argoff CE, editors. Raj's Practical Management of 
Pain. 4th ed.  Philadelphia, PA: Mosby Elsevier; 2008. p. 299-334. 
4. McCartney CJL. Analgesic Adjuvants in the Peripheral Nervous System. In: Hadzic A, editor. 
Textbook of Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Management. 1st ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 
2007. p. 145-55. 
5. Neal J. Upper Extremity Blocks. In: Benzon HT, Rathmell JR, Wu CL, Turk DC, Argoff CE, 
editors.  Raj’s Practical Management of Pain. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Mosby Elsevier 2008. p. 
871-87. 
6. Williams BA, Hough KA, Tsui BYK, Ibinson JW, Gold MS, Gebhart GF. Neurotoxicity of 
adjuvants used in perineural anesthesia and analgesia in comparison with ropivacaine. Reg 
Anesth Pain Med. 2011;36(3):225-30. 
7. Williams BA, Butt MT, Zeller JR, Coffee S, Pippi MA. Multimodal Perineural Analgesia with 
Combined Bupivacaine-Clonidine-Buprenorphine-Dexamethasone: Safe In Vivo and Chemically 
Compatible in Solution.  Pain Medicine 16(1): 186-198, 2015 
8. Cummings KC, Napierkowski DE, Parra-Sanchez I, Kurz A, Dalton JE, Brems JJ, et al. Effect of 
dexamethasone on the duration of interscalene nerve blocks with ropivacaine or bupivacaine. Br 
J Anaesth. 2011;107(3):446-53. 
9. Williams BA, Ibinson JW, Mangione MP, Modrak RT, Tonarelli EJ, Rakesh H, Kmatz AM, 
Cohen PZ. Research priorities regarding multimodal peripheral nerve blocks for postoperative 
analgesia and anesthesia, extracted from hospital quality data for over 1300 cases (2011-2014). 
Pain Medicine 16(1): 7-12, 2015 
10. Williams BA, Ibinson JW, Mangione MP, Scanlan RL, Cohen PZ. Clinical benchmarks 
regarding multimodal peripheral nerve blocks for postoperative analgesia:  Observations 
regarding combined perineural midazolam-clonidine-buprenorphine-dexamethasone. Pain 
Medicine, 16(1):1-6, 2015 
11. Williams BA, Bottegal MT, Kentor ML, Irrgang JJ, Williams JP. Rebound pain scores as a 
function of femoral nerve block duration after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: 
Retrospective analysis of a prospective, randomized clinical trial. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 
2007;32(3):186-92. PubMed PMID: 17543812. 
12. Bupivacaine Hydrochloride Official FDA Information [Drugs.com]. [updated 11/2013; cited 
2014 Sept 30]. Available from:  http://www.drugs.com/pro/bupivacaine.html.   
13. Clonidine Injection Official FDA information, side effects, and uses [Drugs.com].  [updated 
07/2011; cited 2012 April 20]. Available from: http://www.drugs.com/pro/clonidine-
injection.html. 
14. Buprenex Official FDA Information, side effects, and uses [Drugs.com].  [updated 03/2012; cited 
2012 April 20]. Available from: http://www.drugs.com/pro/buprenex.html. 


Page 37 of 48 
Protocol Version 09/12/2018 
15. Williams BA, Murinson BB, Grable BR, Orebaugh SL. Future considerations for pharmacologic 
adjuvants in single-injection peripheral nerve blocks for patients with diabetes mellitus. Reg 
Anesth Pain Med. 2009;34:445-57. 
16. Candido KD, Franco CD, Khan MA, Winnie AP, Raja DS. Buprenorphine added to the local 
anesthetic for brachial plexus block to provide postoperative analgesia in outpatients. Regional 
Anesthesia & Pain Medicine. 2001;26(4):352-6. PubMed PMID: 11464356. 
17. Candido KD, Winnie AP, Ghaleb AH, Fattouh MW, Franco CD. Buprenorphine added to the 
local anesthetic for axillary brachial plexus block prolongs postoperative analgesia. Regional 
Anesthesia & Pain Medicine. 2002;27(2):162-7. PubMed PMID: 11915063 
18. Yilmaz-Rastoder E, Gold MS, Hough KA, Gebhart GF, Williams BA. Effect of Adjuvant Drugs 
on the Action of Local Anesthetics in Isolated Rat Sciatic Nerves. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2012 
Epub March 16, 2012. 
19. Dexamethasone Official FDA Information, side effects and uses [Drugs.com].  [updated 
05/2011; cited 2012 April 20]. Available from: http://www.drugs.com/pro/dexamethasone.html. 
20. Johansson A, Hao J, Sjolund B. Local corticosteroid application blocks transmission in normal 
nociceptive C-fibres. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 1990;34(5):335-8. PubMed PMID: 2167604. 
21. Ware JE, Kosinski M, Dewey JE, Gandek B. How to score and interpret single-item health status 
measures: A manual for users of the SF-8(TM) health survey. Lincoln, RI: QualityMetric, Inc.; 
2001. 
22. Stark PA, Myles PS, Burke JA.  Development and Psychometric Evaluation of a Postoperative 
Quality of Recovery Score. Anesthesiology. 2013;118(6): 1332-1340.  
23. YaDeau JT, Liu SS, Rade MC, Marcello D, Liguori GA.  Performance Characteristics and 
Validation of the Opioid-Related Symptom Distress Scale for Evaluation of Analgesic Side 
Effects After Orthopedic Surgery.  Anesthesia & Analgesia.  August 2011; 113(2): 369-377.  
24.  Felson, DT, Anderson, JJ, Boers, M, et al.  American College of Rheumatology. Preliminary 
definition of improvement in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 1995; 38:727-735. 
25.  Bellamy, N, Buchanan, WW, Goldsmith, CH, et al.  Validation study of WOMAC: a health 
status instrument for measuring clinically important patient relevant outcomes to antirheumatic 
drug therapy in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee. J Rheumatol. 1988; 15:1833-1840. 
26.  Bellamy, N, Kean, WF, Buchanan, WW, et al.  Double blind randomized controlled trial of 
sodium meclofenamate (Meclomen) and diclofenac sodium (Voltaren): post validation 
reapplication of the WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index. J Rheumatol. 1992; 19:153-159. 
27.  Hawker, G, Melfi, C, Paul, J, et al.  Comparison of a generic (SF-36) and a disease specific 
(WOMAC) (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index) instrument in the 
measurement of outcomes after knee replacement surgery. J Rheumatol. 1995; 22:1193-1196. 
28.  Woolhead, GM, Donovan, JL, and Dieppe, PA. Outcomes of total knee replacement: a 
qualitative study. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2005; 44:1032-1037. 


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29.  Stratford, PW, Kennedy, DM, and Woodhouse, LJ. Performance measures provide assessments 
of pain and function in people with advanced osteoarthritis of the hip or knee. Phys Ther. 2006; 
86:1489-1496. 
30.  Stratford, PW, Kennedy, DM, and Riddle, DL. New study design evaluated the validity of 
measures to assess change after hip or knee arthroplasty. J Clin Epidemiol. 2009; 62:347-352. 
31.  Hardy, SE, Perera, S, Roumani, YF, et al.  Improvement in usual gait speed predicts better 
survival in older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2007; 55:1727-1734. 
32.  Curb, JD, Ceria-Ulep, CD, Rodriguez, BL, et al.  Performance-based measures of physical 
function for high-function populations. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2006; 54:737-742. 
33.  Cesari, M, Kritchevsky, SB, Newman, AB, et al.  Added value of physical performance 
measures in predicting adverse health-related events: results from the Health, Aging And Body 
Composition Study. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2009; 57:251-259. 
34.  Simonsick, EM, Newman, AB, Nevitt, MC, et al.  Measuring higher level physical function in 
well-functioning older adults: expanding familiar approaches in the Health ABC study. J 
Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2001; 56:M644-M649. 
35.  Seeman, TE, Charpentier, PA, Berkman, LF, et al.  Predicting changes in physical performance 
in a high-functioning elderly cohort: MacArthur studies of successful aging. J Gerontol. 1994; 
49:M97-108. 
36.  Melzack R. The short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire. Pain. 1987;30(2):191-7. 
 
Cited in the section addressing VAPHS ISOC MMPNA Complication Rates (QI Review) 
Zappe 2014, Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 134:1477-1482 
Brull 2007, Anesth Analg 104:965-974 
Fredrickson 2009, Anaesthesia 64:836-844 
 


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Protocol Version 09/12/2018 
APPENDIX  1:  Study Calendar 
 
 
Screening 
Visita 
Baseline 
Visit 
Day of surgery 
Post-Op 
Day 1 
Post-Op 
Day 2 
Post-Op 
Day 3 
Post-Op 
Day 4 
Post-Op 
Day 5 
Follow-
Up Visit 
1d 
Follow-
Up Visit 
2c, e 
Pre-
Procedure 
Post-
Procedure 
Clinical Assessments 
Informed Consent 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Determine Eligibility 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Demographics  
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Orthopedic & 
IMPACT evaluation 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Crude Sensation in 
L2-L4 & L4-S3 
 
X 
 
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
X 
Straight Leg Raise & 
Range of Motion 
 
X 
 
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
X 
Functional 
Independent 
Measure  (FIM) 
 
X 
 
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
X 
Standing Balance 
Test 
 
X 
 
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
X 
Single Leg Balance 
Testg 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
X 
Gait Speed 
 
X 
 
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
X 
Repeated Chair 
Stand Test 
 
X 
 
 
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
X 
Stair Climbing Time 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
X 
Physical Therapy/ 
Therapeutic 
Exercises 
 
 
 
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
 
Comorbidity (CIRS) 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interim Changes 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
X 
Discharge 
Disposition 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
X 
Opioid Consumption 
 
 
 
 
Xg 
 
 
Anesthesia/Study 
Drugs 
 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adverse Events 
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
Concomitant 
Medications 
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
 
 
 
 


Page 40 of 48 
Protocol Version 09/12/2018 
 
Screening 
Visit 
Baseline 
Visit 
Day of surgery 
Post-Op 
Day 1 
Post-Op 
Day 2 
Post-Op 
Day 3 
Post-Op 
Day 4 
Post-Op 
Day 5 
Follow-
Up Visit 
1 
Follow-
Up Visit 
2, e 
Pre-
Procedure 
Post-
procedure 
Questionnaires 
SFMPQ-2b 
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
X 
DVPRS  
 
X 
X 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
X 
X 
DVPRS- in hospitalb 
 
 
 
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
 
ORSDSb 
 
X 
 
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
 
QOR-15b 
 
X 
 
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
X 
WOMAC 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
X 
SF-8b 
 
 
X 
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
SF-36 
 
X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
X 
Falls Questionnaire 
 
X 
 
 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
 
X 
a. The screening visit and baseline visit can be completed on the same day. 
b. On post-op hospital days and post-op week 6 follow-up visits, these questionnaires will be completed before the subject has their first physical therapy 
session for the day. 
c. If a patient decides to withdraw from the study after having their surgery, or is withdrawn by the study team during or after their surgery, they will be asked 
to complete Follow-Up Visit 2. 
d. Follow-up visit 1 will occur with the patient’s already scheduled standard of care follow-up orthopedic visits.  Follow-Up Visit 1 may be performed as a phone 
call if necessary. 
e. Follow up visit 2 will be scheduled to coincide with the patient’s standard of care follow-up orthopedic visits. 
f. Patient must pass the standing balance test first, before the single leg balance test can be attempted. 
g. Opioid consumption will stop being collected at the time of the patient’s discharge. 
 
 


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Protocol Version 09/12/2018 
APPENDIX 2 – Protocol Amendments 
Protocol Version                     Approved Date 
Original Protocol 
 
February 11, 2016 
Amendment 1  
 
February 16, 2016 
Amendment 2  
 
April 20, 2016 
Amendment 3  
 
August 05, 2016 
Amendment 4  
 
September 12, 2016 
Amendment 5  
 
March 17, 2017 
Amendment 6  
 
June 6, 2017 
Amendment 7  
 
July 11, 2017 
Amendment 8  
 
November 20, 2017 
Amendment 9  
 
 
Amendments below are listed beginning with the most recent amendment. 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Amendment 9 
Protocol Changes: 
Change:  Clarification in the exclusion criteria that previous or current use of marijuana will not be 
considered a study exclusion. 
Rationale:  We are seeing an increase in the use of marijuana in potentially eligible patients. The use of 
medical marijuana is approved in the state of Pennsylvania and we want to clarify that the use of 
marijuana will not be considered an exclusion for this research study.  We do not feel as if these patients 
will be at a higher risk for post-operative substance abuse and therefore can be enrolled into the research 
study.  
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Change:  Addition of previous liver or kidney transplant as an exclusion criterion. 
Rationale:  These patients are at higher risk for prosthetic joint infection, from the immunosuppressant 
drugs that they receive as part of their post-transplant care. 


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Protocol Version 09/12/2018 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Change:  Add Dr. Marsha Ritter-Jones as a co-investigator on the protocol. 
Rationale:  Dr. Ritter-Jones was added to the IRB application and approved as a co-investigator on a 
previous amendment; however, her name was inadvertently not added to the FDA protocol. 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Amendment 8 
Protocol Changes: 
Change:  Clarification that physical therapy testing missed due to the patient preparing for discharge 
and/or the patient being discharged will not be considered a protocol deviation. 
Rationale:  The study team has run into several instances when the physical therapist presented to the 
patient’s room to do physical therapy, and have found that the patient has already been discharged or is 
preparing to leave.  As this is not a safety issue, and the study team can’t always avoid this situation, the 
protocol has been modified so that these occurrences will no longer be protocol deviations. 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Amendment 7 
Protocol Changes: 
Change:  Clarifications and updates to the recruitment strategy. 
Rationale:  In order to help boost enrollment, the recruitment strategy has been clarified and adjusted 
slightly. 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Amendment 6 
Protocol Changes: 
Change: Update the names of the 2 week and 6 week Post-Op Visits to Follow-Up visits 1 and 2 
respectively. 
Rationale:  These visits are scheduled by the ortho clinic and are not always at 2 and 6 weeks.  Updating 
the names of the visits allows for flexibility as the study team does not have control over when ortho 
schedules these visits. 


Page 43 of 48 
Protocol Version 09/12/2018 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Change:  Add that Follow-Up Visit 1 can be performed as a phone call if necessary. 
Rationale:  Follow-Up visit 1 is questionnaires only.  If the study team is unable to meet with the patient 
during their ortho schedule Post-op week 2 visit (study Follow-Up visit 1), the study team would like the 
ability to perform the questionnaires over the phone to complete the visit. 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Change:  Update the study calendar to reflect that concomitant medications will not be collected after the 
end of Post-Op Day 2. 
Rationale:  The study drug is no longer in the patient’s system after Post-Op Day 2; therefore, the study 
team does not feel it is necessary to collect this data after this time point. 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Change:  Update Footnote “g” in the study calendar to clarify that the study team will stop collecting 
opioid consumption data at the time of the patient’s discharge. 
Rationale:  This was not clear as previously written. 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Change:  Adding a statement that physical therapy assessments throughout the study will be considered 
optional if there is a patient medical condition that prohibits them from performing the assessments, the 
decision will be at the discretion of the treating physician and/or physical therapist.  
Rationale:  None of the physical therapy assessments are being done for safety purposes, the physical 
therapy portion of this study is strictly for data purposes only.  After enrolling 22 patients, the study team 
has run into several instances where some or none of the physical therapy assessments could be done at 
the specified time points due to patient medical issues (such as a knee immobilizer).  To cut down on 
study team and IRB time in preparing and reviewing these deviations, the study team will consider the 
physical therapy assessments optional if in the opinion of the treating physician and/or physical therapist 
the assessments cannot be completed due to a patient medical issue. 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Change:  Adding MyHealtheVet as a communication tool after the patient has signed consent. 
Rationale:  MyHealtheVet is a very convenient and secure tool for the patient and study team to use for 
communication.  The addition of using MyHealtheVet will make contacting the study team more 
convenient for the patient.  


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Protocol Version 09/12/2018 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Change:  Added ankle range of motion to the physical therapy tests being conducted. 
Rationale:  Study team would like to begin collecting this data to ensure that the patient will be able to 
walk and perform the other physical therapy tests. 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Amendment 5 
The overall reason for the amendment:  To update the Independent Research Monitor to Michael 
Mangione, MD and to add that the study team will evaluate patients who have a significant health 
change after their baseline visit but before their surgery, to determine if the baseline visit should be 
repeated for data purposes only. 
Protocol Changes: 
Change:  Replace Dr. Ezaru as the Independent Research Monitor with Dr. Michael Mangione. 
Rationale:  The Independent Research Monitor is being updated to add Dr. Ezaru as a study co-
investigator as he is also able to perform the study-specific nerve blocks and assist with other study 
matters, making him a valuable addition to the study team. 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Change:  Add Dr. Hulimangala Rakesh as a co-investigator on the protocol. 
Rationale:  Dr. Rakesh was added to the IRB application and approved as a co-investigator on the 
previous amendment; however, his name was inadvertently not added to the FDA protocol. 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Change:  The addition of a potential repeat baseline visit if deemed necessary by the study team. 
Rationale:  If a patient has a significant health status after their baseline visit, but before the scheduled 
surgery, the study team wants to evaluate the patient’s current medical status to determine if the health 
status change will affect the baseline data.  In the rare occasion that the study team determines the 
patient’s baseline data will be affected, they want to ask the patient to come back to clinic for a repeat 
baseline visit.  If the patient declines, they may still proceed with the study as planned. 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Change:  Update inclusion/exclusion criteria to state that the PI will have the final decision regarding 
patient eligibility. 


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Protocol Version 09/12/2018 
Rationale:  The PI wants to ensure that he has the final decision regarding patient eligibility, as there 
may be other factors that should be considered prior to the patient being enrolled into the study. 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Change:  Update the Independent Research Monitor duties. 
Rationale:  After discussion with the new medical monitor, the duties were updated to include specific 
items he would like to review. 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Amendment 4 
The overall reason for the amendment: To update the Independent Research Monitor to Dr. Catalin 
Ezaru.  
Protocol Changes:  
Change: Replace Dr. Chelly as the Independent Research Monitor with Dr. Catalin Ezaru.  
Rationale: The Independent research monitor is being updated due to VA Credentialing issues. 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Amendment 3 
The overall reason for the amendment: To incorporate required Department of Defense reporting 
language and to update the study calendar to remove discharge day, replace the TUG test with the 
repeated chair stand test and add the repeated chair stand test to Post-Op days 2+. 
Protocol Changes: 
Change: Removed discharge day from the study calendar. 
Rationale:  As discharge can’t be accurately predicted, it has been removed from the study calendar. 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Change:  Replaced TUG Test with the Repeated Chair Stand Test 
Rationale:  Due to logistical issues with completing the TUG test, a similar replacement test, the 
repeated chair stand test will be done in place of the TUG test. 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Change: Added repeated chair stand test to Post-Op days 2+. 


Page 46 of 48 
Protocol Version 09/12/2018 
Rationale:  As discharge can’t be accurately predicted, the repeated chair stand test has been added to all 
PT sessions starting Post-Op Day two until the patient is discharged. 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Change:  Added DoD reporting language to section 9.0. 
Rationale:  The DoD has requested that this additional language be added. 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Change:  Minor administrative changes throughout the protocol document. 
Rationale:  Minor administrative and formatting changes to make the document easier to read. 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Change:  Addition of research staff. 
Rationale:  Updating the research staff list to reflect the current study team. 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Amendment 2 
The overall reason for the amendment: To incorporate physical therapy and orthopedic staff feedback 
into the protocol and to update the eligibility criteria. 
Protocol Changes: 
Change: Changed Post-Op follow up visits from 1 week and 1 month to 2 weeks post-op and 6-weeks 
post-op.  Also, the 2 weeks post-op visit is now an in-person visit and is no longer a phone call. 
Rationale:  Updated to coordinate with patient’s standard of care orthopedic post-op visits. 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Change:  Update the Randomization and Blinding schema. 
Rationale:  Updated the randomization and blinding schema as per the VAPHS Investigational Drug 
Service Pharmacist. 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Change:  Revised the study calendar and study visits.  Updated when various questionnaires and 
physical therapy tests are administered. 


Page 47 of 48 
Protocol Version 09/12/2018 
Rationale:  After discussion with the Physical Therapy team, the study calendar was updated to reflect 
their suggestions, along with PI requested changes. 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Change:  Added information on all questionnaires and clinical assessments, regardless of whether or not 
they are considered standard of care or research. 
Rationale:  Added information for all questionnaires and clinical assessments completed for protocol 
consistency.  Previously not all items were listed. 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Change:  Updated inclusion/exclusion criteria. 
Rationale:  Updated the inclusion/exclusion criteria as per FDA requested changes. 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Change:  Updated recruitment procedures. 
Rationale:  After discussions with all of the involved departments (PI, Study coordinator, orthopedic 
department & IMPACT clinic), the recruitment strategy was updated to reflect requested changes to 
maximize patient recruitment. 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Change:  Updated external DSMB information. 
Rationale:  Added information regarding the external DSMB, including meeting frequency. 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Change:  Updated potential benefits section. 
Rationale:  Update the potential benefits section of the protocol to match the IRB approved language in 
the local VAPHS IRB application. 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
Amendment 1 
The overall reason for the amendment:  To make James Ibinson, MD a Co-Principal Investigator of 
the study for fiscal purposes only. 
Protocol Changes: 


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Protocol Version 09/12/2018 
No protocol changes. 
 

ICF_001.pdf: 
4-drug Nerve Block versus Plain Local Anesthetic for Knee and Hip 
Arthroplasty Analgesia in Veterans 
 
 
Consent Version 9.0 
Consent Date:  January 11, 2018 
 
 
NCT02891798 


VA  Department of Veterans Affairs
VA  RESEARCH  CONSENT  FORM
Subject Name:                                                             Last 4 SSN:                     Date: ______________                
Title of Study:  4-drug Nerve Block versus Plain Local Anesthetic for Knee and Hip Arthroplasty 
Analgesia in Veterans
Principal Investigator:  Brian A. Williams, MD, MBA                                      VAMC:    Pittsburgh (646) 
VA FORM  10-1086 JUNE 1990   (revised 03/2017)
LAY TITLE: Study of two different types of pain relief nerve blocks for patients having a knee or hip 
replacement
STUDY CONTACT INFORMATION:
If you have a general question about this research study, or if you have any concerns or complaints related 
to this research study, you may call Dr. Brian Williams at 412-360-1602 or any of the investigators listed 
below.
If you experience any illness, injury or other medical problem that you feel may be related to this study, 
please call Dr. Williams at 412-360-1602 during the day and after-hours or on weekends call 1-866-785-
9015 and tell the operator that you are a research subject from Nerve Block study and need to speak with 
Dr. Williams. Then give the operator a phone number where you can be reached. The operator will get in 
touch with Dr. Williams or another person listed below who will call you back. In the case of a medical 
emergency contact your local emergency medical service or go to your local emergency room.
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR:
Brian A. Williams, MD, MBA
VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (VAPHS)
University Drive C
Pittsburgh, PA 15240
412-360- 1602
CO-INVESTIGATORS:
Catalin S. Ezaru, MD
Marsha RitterJones, MD
VAPHS
University Drive C
Pittsburgh, PA 15240
412-360-6770
Visala Muluk, MD
VAPHS
University Drive C
Pittsburgh, PA 15240
412-360-3957
James Ibinson, MD, PhD
VAPHS
University Drive C
Pittsburgh, PA 15240
412-360-6152
Study ID:Pro00001357   Date Approved: 1/16/2018   Modified Date: 1/11/2018


VA  Department of Veterans Affairs
VA  RESEARCH  CONSENT  FORM
(Page 2 of 16)
Subject Name:                                                             Last 4 SSN:                     Date: ______________              
Title of Study:  4-drug Nerve Block versus Plain Local Anesthetic for Knee and Hip Arthroplasty 
Analgesia in Veterans
Principal Investigator:  Brian A. Williams, MD, MBA                                      VAMC:    Pittsburgh (646) 
VA FORM  10-1086 JUNE 1990   (revised 03/2017)
STUDY SPONSOR: 
Department of Defense
Department of the Army – US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command 
Additional information regarding the study sponsor can be provided upon request.
PURPOSE OF THE RESEARCH STUDY: 
During orthopedic surgery, nerve blocks are used to decrease post-operative pain. The purpose of this 
research study is to compare two different dosing plans for nerve blocks to try to control pain following 
the surgery, and will specifically look at your self-reported and physical therapy progress after your 
surgery.  The study will evaluate the effectiveness of bupivacaine (a Novocain®-like drug) versus 
bupivacaine plus CBD (clonidine-buprenorphine-dexamethasone).  All of the drugs utilized in this 
research study are all FDA approved, however, not all are FDA approved for this indication, and the 
combination of bupivacaine plus CBD is not FDA-approved.  Bupivacaine plus CBD, however, has been 
used routinely here for such nerve blocks since 2011, after the hospital approved this drug combination.  
You are being asked to participate in this research study because you are scheduled to undergo a total 
knee or hip replacement at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (VAPHS).
You will be randomly assigned to one of the two treatment arms (bupivacaine or bupivacaine +CBD).  
This is a double blind study, so neither you nor your anesthesiologist or surgeon will know what study 
treatment group you are assigned to.
VAPHS plans to consent approximately 250 patients, in order to enroll 200 patients into this study (100 
patients undergoing hip replacement, and 100 patients undergoing knee replacement).
A description of this clinical trial will be available on http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov, as required by U.S. 
Law.  This Web site will not include information that can identify you.  At most, the Website will include 
a summary of the results.  You can search this Web site at any time.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH STUDY: 
You will be in this research study for up to approximately 6 weeks after your surgery.  Your participation 
in this study could be as long as 3-4 months.  This will depend on how long after you sign consent that 
Study ID:Pro00001357   Date Approved: 1/16/2018   Modified Date: 1/11/2018


VA  Department of Veterans Affairs
VA  RESEARCH  CONSENT  FORM
(Page 3 of 16)
Subject Name:                                                             Last 4 SSN:                     Date: ______________              
Title of Study:  4-drug Nerve Block versus Plain Local Anesthetic for Knee and Hip Arthroplasty 
Analgesia in Veterans
Principal Investigator:  Brian A. Williams, MD, MBA                                      VAMC:    Pittsburgh (646) 
VA FORM  10-1086 JUNE 1990   (revised 03/2017)
your surgery is scheduled.  However, your last study visit will be approximately 6 weeks after your 
surgery.
Your participation in this research study should not require you to spend any more time in the hospital 
than would occur with your routine medical care after having knee or hip replacement surgery.  We will 
attempt to coordinate your research visits with your other standard of care appointments at VAPHS, but if 
we cannot do so, then additional visits to VAPHS will be required to accomplish these. 
Whether or not you participate in the research study, you will be asked to return to VAPHS for routine 
medical and orthopedic care.  Your participation in this research study will require that you spend more 
time at VAPHS than would occur with your routine medical care, to complete any questionnaires 
requested from you, and undergo any of the described testing, unless (as described above) we need to 
schedule separate visits.  The total additional time required for your participation in this study (not 
including the hospital stay itself, and not including transportation to/from VAPHS) is approximately 4-5 
hours (over the course of a typical 2-5 day hospital stay).
While taking part in this study, the following tests and procedures will be completed:
Prior to surgery (Screening/baseline visit):
-
Demographics, including your age and weight
-
You will be asked about whether you smoke or not and if so, how much
-
You will undergo a pre-surgery evaluation at the IMPACT clinic at VAPHS.  You would have this 
evaluation done whether or not you were participating in this study.
-
You will undergo the following physical therapy tests (all physical therapy tests done prior to 
surgery are being done only because you are taking part in this research study):
o
Climbing stairs (timed)
o
Straight leg raise
o
Range of motion test
o
Standing balance test
o
Walking speed
o
Sensation test
Study ID:Pro00001357   Date Approved: 1/16/2018   Modified Date: 1/11/2018


VA  Department of Veterans Affairs
VA  RESEARCH  CONSENT  FORM
(Page 4 of 16)
Subject Name:                                                             Last 4 SSN:                     Date: ______________              
Title of Study:  4-drug Nerve Block versus Plain Local Anesthetic for Knee and Hip Arthroplasty 
Analgesia in Veterans
Principal Investigator:  Brian A. Williams, MD, MBA                                      VAMC:    Pittsburgh (646) 
VA FORM  10-1086 JUNE 1990   (revised 03/2017)
o
Repeated Chair Stand test:  For this test you will be asked to stand up from a chair five 
times.  It will take approximately one minute to complete this test.
o
Functional Independence Measure (FIM).  For this test you will be asked to complete 18 
specific tasks related to transfers, walking and stair climbing.  It will take approximately 
15 minutes to complete these tests.
You will be asked to complete several study questionnaires.  These questionnaires will take 
approximately 20 minutes to complete and will ask about current pain you may have and your 
ability to complete various daily tasks.
If you experience a significant health status change after your baseline visit, but before your surgery, the 
study team will re-evaluate your current health status and determine if it will affect your initial baseline 
data.  If they determine that it will affect your baseline data, you will be asked to come in for a repeat 
baseline visit (all previously-listed procedures will be conducted).  Repeating this baseline visit is for data 
purposes only, and not for any safety concerns.  If there are safety concerns, your orthopedic team will 
alert you if your surgery needs to be cancelled or reconsidered.  If you are unable to come in for this 
repeat visit, you will not be removed from the study; rather, you will be able to move forward in the study 
as originally planned.  
Day of Surgery:
Prior to receiving anesthesia, you will be asked to complete 3 study questionnaires.  You will have 
regional anesthesia (which, as opposed to general anesthesia, is the anesthetic of choice for your surgery 
at VAPHS).  Another word to describe “regional anesthesia” is “nerve block”.  For this study, you will be 
randomly assigned (like a flip of a coin) to receive one of two different nerve blocks.  These nerve blocks 
all help with pain relief after surgery for a limited period of time (hours), and are also used to avoid the 
need for general anesthesia (breathing tube and breathing machine) during surgery.  Please understand 
that patients are routinely “asleep” for their surgery, including with nerve blocks; the nerve blocks simply 
allow for the avoiding of the breathing tube and breathing machine.  Regardless of which of the 2 groups 
you are assigned to, we will take precautions to use a detailed standardized treatment plan to prevent and 
treat both pain and sickness to the stomach (nausea and vomiting).  We will assure that you will be as 
comfortable as is safely possible throughout your hospital stay after your surgery.  Once your regional 
anesthesia sets in (the nerve blocks described as well as a spinal anesthetic), you will have your scheduled 
Study ID:Pro00001357   Date Approved: 1/16/2018   Modified Date: 1/11/2018


VA  Department of Veterans Affairs
VA  RESEARCH  CONSENT  FORM
(Page 5 of 16)
Subject Name:                                                             Last 4 SSN:                     Date: ______________              
Title of Study:  4-drug Nerve Block versus Plain Local Anesthetic for Knee and Hip Arthroplasty 
Analgesia in Veterans
Principal Investigator:  Brian A. Williams, MD, MBA                                      VAMC:    Pittsburgh (646) 
VA FORM  10-1086 JUNE 1990   (revised 03/2017)
knee or hip replacement surgery.  The spinal anesthetic and nerve blocks are the recommended anesthesia 
plan whether or not you participate in the study.
After your surgery, there will be orders for prescribed pain medications.  These pain relievers, taken by 
mouth, include both prescription medication (for example sustained-release morphine and immediate-
release oxycodone) and over-the-counter medication (for example acetaminophen, dextromethorphan, and 
salsalate).  These are the same pain pills that you would receive whether or not you participate in the 
study.  If the pain after your surgery is more severe than can be managed with pain pills by mouth, we 
will have injectable pain medications available, which again are the same as those used for all patients 
regardless of participating in the study.
Later that day after your surgery, you will also be asked to complete two questionnaires about your 
recovery from anesthesia, these will take approximately 10 minutes to complete.
Hospital Stay:
Questionnaires:
After your surgery, you will be in the hospital for approximately two to five days for recovery and start of 
physical therapy.  Throughout your hospital stay, you will be asked to complete several study 
questionnaires.  These questionnaires will address your general health, pain, anesthesia recovery and knee 
or hip function.  Each day, these questionnaires will take approximately 30 minutes to complete.  These 
questionnaires are not part of your standard of care, and are for research purposes only.  
Physical Therapy Testing:
All of the physical therapy testing done after your surgery is the same as what you would normally be 
doing if you were not taking part in this research study, with the exception of  the walking speed test, 
standing balance test, stair climb test, single leg balance test and the repeated chair stand test.   The 
following physical therapy tests will be conducted during your hospital stay at VAPHS:
-
Straight leg raise (every day while in the hospital)
-
Standing balance test (every day while in the hospital)
-
FIM (every day while in the hospital)
-
Range of motion test (every day while in the hospital)
Study ID:Pro00001357   Date Approved: 1/16/2018   Modified Date: 1/11/2018


VA  Department of Veterans Affairs
VA  RESEARCH  CONSENT  FORM
(Page 6 of 16)
Subject Name:                                                             Last 4 SSN:                     Date: ______________              
Title of Study:  4-drug Nerve Block versus Plain Local Anesthetic for Knee and Hip Arthroplasty 
Analgesia in Veterans
Principal Investigator:  Brian A. Williams, MD, MBA                                      VAMC:    Pittsburgh (646) 
VA FORM  10-1086 JUNE 1990   (revised 03/2017)
-
Walking speed (every day while in the hospital)
-
Repeated chair stand test (Post-op Day 2 and on only)
After your approximate 2-5-day hospital stay, you will be discharged from VAPHS as per the routine 
procedure.
Follow-Up Visit 1:
Approximately two weeks after your surgery, you will be scheduled to have your standard of care post-op 
follow up orthopedic visit.  At this visit, a member of the study team will also meet with you to administer 
two study questionnaires and ask you about any adverse events or medications you have been taking.  The 
study team visit with you will add approximately 30 minutes to your already scheduled orthopedic visit.  
If a study team member is unavailable to meet with you on this day, this visit may be completed as a 
phone call between you and the study team member.  The study team member will administer the 
questionnaires over the phone.
Follow-Up Visit 2:
Approximately six weeks after your surgery, you will come back to the hospital for your orthopedic 
follow-up visit.  The study team will meet with you as well during this visit; this will extend your normal 
visit by approximately 1-2 hours.  This will be your final study visit. You would be scheduled for this 
follow-up visit even if you were not taking part in this research study.  During this visit, you will meet 
with your orthopedic care team to see how well you are doing after your surgery.  You will also complete 
study questionnaires and the following physical therapy tests (range of motion, straight leg raise, FIM, 
standing balance test, single leg balance test, walking speed, stair climbing test and the repeated chair 
stand test).  The walking speed, standing balance test, stair climb test, single leg balance test and repeated 
chair stand tests are only being done because you taking part in this research study, all other procedures 
and assessments done at your Follow-Up visit 2 are considered standard of care.
Once you complete Follow-Up Visit 2 you will complete this research study.
RISKS AND BENEFITS: 
When the drugs listed below are given intravenously at comparable doses the side effects listed below 
may occur.  Please note that for this research study, these drugs will not be given intravenously.  So 
Study ID:Pro00001357   Date Approved: 1/16/2018   Modified Date: 1/11/2018


VA  Department of Veterans Affairs
VA  RESEARCH  CONSENT  FORM
(Page 7 of 16)
Subject Name:                                                             Last 4 SSN:                     Date: ______________              
Title of Study:  4-drug Nerve Block versus Plain Local Anesthetic for Knee and Hip Arthroplasty 
Analgesia in Veterans
Principal Investigator:  Brian A. Williams, MD, MBA                                      VAMC:    Pittsburgh (646) 
VA FORM  10-1086 JUNE 1990   (revised 03/2017)
although it is possible for these intravenous side effects to occur when given instead as nerve blocks (as in 
this study), it is very rare.
Risks of Bupivacaine:
-
Excitation and/or depression
-
Restlessness
-
Anxiety
-
Dizziness
-
Ringing/buzzing in the ears
-
Blurred vision
-
Tremors
-
Nausea
-
Vomiting
-
Chills
-
Constriction of the pupils
-
Heart block (Slowing of the electrical 
activity of the heart)
-
Low blood pressure
-
Slow heart action
-
Abnormal rapid heart rhythms
-
Cardiac arrest
-
Allergic reaction 
Risks of Buprenorphine:
Less Frequent (occurs in 5-10% of patients (5-10 
patients out of 100)):
-
Nausea
-
Dizziness/vertigo
Rare (occurs in 1-5% of patients (1-5 patients out 
of 100)):
-
Sweating 
-
Low blood pressure
-
Vomiting
-
Constriction of the pupils
-
Headache
-
Hypoventilation
Very Rare (occurs is less than1% of patients (less 
than1 out of 100 patients)):
Very Rare (continued):
-
Visual abnormalities
-
Injection site reactions
-
Urinary retention
-
Dreaming
-
Flushing/warmth
-
Chills/cold
-
Ringing or buzzing in the ears
-
Pinkeye
-
Heart block (Slowing of the electrical 
activity of the heart)
-
 Psychosis
-
Feeling of discomfort/uneasiness
-
Hallucinations
-
Coma
-
Depersonalization
Study ID:Pro00001357   Date Approved: 1/16/2018   Modified Date: 1/11/2018


VA  Department of Veterans Affairs
VA  RESEARCH  CONSENT  FORM
(Page 8 of 16)
Subject Name:                                                             Last 4 SSN:                     Date: ______________              
Title of Study:  4-drug Nerve Block versus Plain Local Anesthetic for Knee and Hip Arthroplasty 
Analgesia in Veterans
Principal Investigator:  Brian A. Williams, MD, MBA                                      VAMC:    Pittsburgh (646) 
VA FORM  10-1086 JUNE 1990   (revised 03/2017)
-
Confusion
-
Blurred vision
-
Euphoria
-
Weakness/fatigue
-
Dry mouth
-
Nervousness
-
Depression
-
Slurred speech
-
”Pins and Needles” feeling
-
High blood pressure
-
Abnormally rapid heart rate 
-
Abnormally slow heart action
-
Constipation
-
Difficult or labored breathing
-
Bluish discoloration of skin
-
Indigestion
-
Gas
-
Apnea (temporary cessation of breathing)
-
Rash
-
Reduced vision
-
Tremors
-
Paleness
-
Loss of appetite
-
Dysphoria/agitation
-
Diarrhea
-
Red patches on the skin
-
Convulsions/lack of muscle coordination
-
Allergic reactions
-
Itchy skin
-
Double vision
Risks of Clonidine:
Common:
-
Low blood pressure (45% )
Less Frequent (occurs in 10-15% of patients (10-15 out of 100 patients)):
-
Dry mouth
-
Nausea
-
Drowsiness
-
Dizziness
-
Confusion
-
Vomiting
Rare (occurs in less than 10% of patients (less than 10 out of 100 patients)):
-
Nausea
-
Sweating
Study ID:Pro00001357   Date Approved: 1/16/2018   Modified Date: 1/11/2018


VA  Department of Veterans Affairs
VA  RESEARCH  CONSENT  FORM
(Page 9 of 16)
Subject Name:                                                             Last 4 SSN:                     Date: ______________              
Title of Study:  4-drug Nerve Block versus Plain Local Anesthetic for Knee and Hip Arthroplasty 
Analgesia in Veterans
Principal Investigator:  Brian A. Williams, MD, MBA                                      VAMC:    Pittsburgh (646) 
VA FORM  10-1086 JUNE 1990   (revised 03/2017)
-
Chest pain
-
Hallucination
-
Ringing/buzzing in the ears
-
Constipation
-
Abnormally rapid heart rate
-
Hypoventilation 
Risks of Dexamethasone:
-
Sodium retention
-
Fluid retention
-
Congestive heart failure
-
Decrease in potassium levels
-
High blood pressure
-
Muscle weakness
-
Loss of muscle mass
-
Osteoporosis (may cause vertebral 
fractures)
-
Tendon rupture
-
Peptic ulcer
-
Perforation of the small and large bowel
-
Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
-
Abdominal distension
-
Convulsions
-
Increased intracranial pressure
-
Vertigo
-
Headache
-
Psychic disturbances
-
Menstrual irregularities
-
Development of cushingoid state 
(symptoms include weight gain and facial 
puffiness)
-
Abnormal grown of hair on face and body
-
Cataracts
-
Glaucoma
-
Increased eye pressure
-
Bulging of the eye
-
Blood vessel obstruction caused by a clot
-
Weight gain
-
Increased appetite
-
Nausea
-
Feeling of discomfort/uneasiness
-
hiccups
-
Ulcers in the esophagus
-
Slow would healing 
-
Thin fragile skin
-
Skin discoloration
-
Increased sweating
-
Burning or tingling
-
Allergic reaction
Surgery:
Study ID:Pro00001357   Date Approved: 1/16/2018   Modified Date: 1/11/2018


VA  Department of Veterans Affairs
VA  RESEARCH  CONSENT  FORM
(Page 10 of 16)
Subject Name:                                                             Last 4 SSN:                     Date: ______________              
Title of Study:  4-drug Nerve Block versus Plain Local Anesthetic for Knee and Hip Arthroplasty 
Analgesia in Veterans
Principal Investigator:  Brian A. Williams, MD, MBA                                      VAMC:    Pittsburgh (646) 
VA FORM  10-1086 JUNE 1990   (revised 03/2017)
With respect to your knee or hip replacement surgery, we do not expect any risks above and beyond those 
related to routine care of surgery.   Prior to your surgery, you will be asked to sign a general surgery 
consent form, which all patients would sign prior to having knee or hip surgery, regardless of taking part 
in this research study.
“Nerve Blocks”/Anesthesia
From the anesthesia perspective, the “two-needle” nerve block technique is our standard of care for 
patients that do not participate in the study.  Spinal anesthesia is also a standard of care for our patients 
undergoing joint replacement surgery (knee or hip).  Prior to your surgery, you will be asked to sign a 
general anesthesia consent form (which is part of the same surgery consent form described above), which 
all patients would sign prior to having knee or hip surgery regardless of taking part in this research study.  
There are no differences in risks from the two nerve block procedures in the two treatment groups.  The 
drug treatment differences between the two groups do not necessarily change the risks but are indeed 
likely to change the outcomes when comparing one-drug treatment to the 4-drug treatment.  We are not 
exactly sure how the outcomes will differ, which is why the study is being done.  For example, the 4-drug 
treatment may lead to longer-duration pain relief, but does this longer-duration pain relief lead to better 
physical therapy, or not as effective physical therapy?  Does the longer-duration pain relief and possible 
changes in physical therapy progress lead to a shorter hospital stay or a longer hospital stay?  So the 
differences in outcomes are expected between the two treatment groups, but this is not the same as stating 
“the risks will be higher (or lower)” with one treatment or the other.  
Risks of Allergic Reaction:
Patients may have a history of allergy to Novocain®; our nerve blocks do not use Novocain® itself, and 
the risk of allergy from the nerve block drugs that we use for patients is exceedingly rare.  
Physical Therapy Testing:
With respect to the described physical therapy testing, The risks associated with the physical tests may 
include temporary muscle soreness (common: 10 to 25 out of 100 people), a short-term increase of your 
knee or hip pain and inflammation (rare: less than 1 out of 100 people), or tripping and falling during 
testing (rare: less than 1 out of 100 people). During testing, risks of tripping and falling will be minimized 
by our team providing direct stand-by supervision with trained testers. Signs and symptoms of 
inflammation will be monitored before and after each testing visit. If this inflammation occurs, you will 
Study ID:Pro00001357   Date Approved: 1/16/2018   Modified Date: 1/11/2018


VA  Department of Veterans Affairs
VA  RESEARCH  CONSENT  FORM
(Page 11 of 16)
Subject Name:                                                             Last 4 SSN:                     Date: ______________              
Title of Study:  4-drug Nerve Block versus Plain Local Anesthetic for Knee and Hip Arthroplasty 
Analgesia in Veterans
Principal Investigator:  Brian A. Williams, MD, MBA                                      VAMC:    Pittsburgh (646) 
VA FORM  10-1086 JUNE 1990   (revised 03/2017)
be referred to your physician for evaluation. Because you will participate in physical tests, there is a rare 
risk (less than 1 out of 100 people) that you may experience chest pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, 
heart attack, or stroke. To minimize this risk, we will follow the recommendations from the American 
College of Sports Medicine and American Heart Association (ACSM/AHA) guidelines for physical 
testing. As with any experimental procedure, there may be adverse events or side effects that are currently 
unknown, and some of these unknown risks could be permanent, severe, or life-threatening.
Questionnaires:
Completing the described questionnaires on paper should not constitute a significant risk.
Standard of Care Risks:
You may also experience some side effects related to the procedures/medications/treatments you receive 
that are not part of the research, but are considered standard of care for your condition. A description of 
these side effects should have been provided to you by your physician. If you have not received 
information regarding these side effects, please contact your physician.  Orthopedic procedure details are 
commonly discussed with the surgeon in the clinic before surgery, and anesthesia-specific details are 
routinely discussed with the anesthesiologist physician the morning of surgery.  As a study participant, 
you are openly invited to discuss anesthesia-specific details with the anesthesiologist before the morning 
of surgery.
Unknown Risks:
As with any experimental procedure, there may be adverse events or side effects that are currently 
unknown, and such unknown risks could be permanent, severe, and/or life-threatening.
Confidentiality Risks:  
Every effort will be made to make sure that the information about you obtained from this study will be 
kept strictly confidential. As private information is collected about you as part of this study, there is a risk 
to your privacy and confidentiality. The research staff will take every precaution to protect your identity 
and the confidentiality of the information collected about you.  
The information that we collect about you will be put onto paper forms.  The forms will include study 
ID#, date of birth and date of study events. This information will also be placed into the secure electronic 
Study ID:Pro00001357   Date Approved: 1/16/2018   Modified Date: 1/11/2018


VA  Department of Veterans Affairs
VA  RESEARCH  CONSENT  FORM
(Page 12 of 16)
Subject Name:                                                             Last 4 SSN:                     Date: ______________              
Title of Study:  4-drug Nerve Block versus Plain Local Anesthetic for Knee and Hip Arthroplasty 
Analgesia in Veterans
Principal Investigator:  Brian A. Williams, MD, MBA                                      VAMC:    Pittsburgh (646) 
VA FORM  10-1086 JUNE 1990   (revised 03/2017)
database system (REDCap). None of your identifiable information will be sent off-site.  Completely de-
identified information will be sent to the University of Pittsburgh for routine safety analysis, known as a 
Data Safety Monitoring Review Board.  This protocol will also be reviewed by the University of 
Pittsburgh IRB; however the University of Pittsburgh IRB will not receive any identifiable information.  
The University of Pittsburgh Research Conduct and Compliance Officer (RCCO) will routinely monitor 
this study on site at VAPHS.  The RCCO monitor will have access to your entire research chart and will 
have access to PHI, however, they will not be able to take any identifiable information off site.  All of the 
paper forms with your initials and date of birth on it will be stored only at VAPHS in a locked cabinet, 
and will be accessed only by authorized members of the study team.  The Independent Research Monitor 
may have access to your records as part of their duty to review/evaluate any safety issues, risks or 
concerns of the research study.
In order to receive your study compensation, you will receive a  ClinCard Mastercard, (additional 
information regarding the ClinCard is located in the COST and PAYMENTS section of this form) your 
name, date of birth, address and social security number will be sent to Greenphire.  
In addition, Federal agencies, including but not limited to, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 
Office of Human Research Protections (OHRP), VA’s Office of Research Oversight (ORO), Department 
of Defense (DoD) and the VA Office of the Inspector General (OIG) may have access to your research 
records. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may also choose to inspect research records, which 
may include your individual medical records, if this research is FDA-regulated. Research records, just 
like hospital medical records, may be released or disclosed pursuant to applicable federal and state law as 
well as to federal and state agencies that are responsible for oversight of medical research. Additionally, 
any medical information may be shared with your healthcare provider(s) with your consent, and possibly 
without your consent if permissible under federal laws and regulations. Finally, you consent to the 
publication of the study results so long as the information about you is anonymous and/or disguised so 
that your identity will not be disclosed. 
You will not directly benefit from participating in this study. You may however, receive indirect benefit 
given that you are contributing to medical science or helping to advance future understanding of specific 
pain management techniques to allow a more prompt return to normal activities of daily living and a better 
outcome from physical therapy. 
Study ID:Pro00001357   Date Approved: 1/16/2018   Modified Date: 1/11/2018


VA  Department of Veterans Affairs
VA  RESEARCH  CONSENT  FORM
(Page 13 of 16)
Subject Name:                                                             Last 4 SSN:                     Date: ______________              
Title of Study:  4-drug Nerve Block versus Plain Local Anesthetic for Knee and Hip Arthroplasty 
Analgesia in Veterans
Principal Investigator:  Brian A. Williams, MD, MBA                                      VAMC:    Pittsburgh (646) 
VA FORM  10-1086 JUNE 1990   (revised 03/2017)
ALTERNATIVES TO PARTICIPATION:
There may be other studies that you qualify for. Talk to your provider about such options. 
If you decide not to participate in this research study, you will undergo knee or hip replacement surgery 
and be offered the routine choices of anesthetic currently offered to our patients undergoing the same 
procedure.  The same nerve block techniques are used, which may or may not include a spinal anesthetic 
depending on the clinical situation and other health status factors.  Nerve blocks are routine at VAPHS.
NEW FINDINGS: 
You will be informed of any significant new findings during the course of the study, which may affect 
your willingness to continue to participate.
INVESTIGATOR INITIATED WITHDRAWAL: 
The investigator(s) may stop your participation in this study without your consent for reasons such as: it 
will be in your best interest; you do not follow the study plan; or you experience a study-related injury. 
You may also be withdrawn at the discretion of the investigator(s) due to surgical complications or other 
concerns that may impact your safety.
VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION/RIGHT TO WITHDRAW: 
Your participation in this study is voluntary. You do not have to take part in this study, and your refusal to 
participate will involve no penalty or loss of rights to which you are entitled.  You may withdraw from 
this study at any time without penalty or loss of VA or other benefits to which you are entitled. 
Your doctor may also beinvolved as an investigator in this research study. As both your doctor and a 
research investigator, he is interested both in your medical care and the conduct of this research study. 
You are under no obligation to participate in this or any other research study offered by your doctor. 
Before you agree to participate in this research study, or at any time during your participation in this 
study, you may discuss your care with another doctor who is not associated with this research study. 
MEDICAL TREATMENT: 
Study ID:Pro00001357   Date Approved: 1/16/2018   Modified Date: 1/11/2018


VA  Department of Veterans Affairs
VA  RESEARCH  CONSENT  FORM
(Page 14 of 16)
Subject Name:                                                             Last 4 SSN:                     Date: ______________              
Title of Study:  4-drug Nerve Block versus Plain Local Anesthetic for Knee and Hip Arthroplasty 
Analgesia in Veterans
Principal Investigator:  Brian A. Williams, MD, MBA                                      VAMC:    Pittsburgh (646) 
VA FORM  10-1086 JUNE 1990   (revised 03/2017)
In the event that you sustain injury or illness as a result of your participation in this VA approved research 
study, conducted under the supervision of one or more VA employees, all medical treatment (emergent as 
well as medical treatment beyond necessary emergent care) will be provided by the VA.    Except in 
limited circumstances, the necessary medical care must be provided in VA medical facilities. 
However, if such injury or illness occurred as a result of your failure to follow the instructions for this 
study, you may not be eligible for free care unless you have independent eligibility for such care under 
Federal Law.
FINANCIAL COMPENSATION:  
If you sustain an injury or illness as a result of participating in this research study, you may be eligible to 
receive monetary compensation for your damages pursuant to applicable federal law. If you believe that 
you are injured as a result of participation in this study, please contact the Principal Investigator. If 
compensation is available, the Principal Investigator will provide you with an explanation as to what that 
compensation consists of, or where you can obtain further information regarding it.
COST AND PAYMENTS:  You or your insurance will not be charged for any costs related to the 
research. However if you are receiving medical care and services from the VA that are not part of this 
study, and you are a veteran described in federal regulations as a "category 7" veteran, you may be 
required to make co-payments for the care and services that are not required as part of this research study.
You will receive compensation for your time and travel for participating in this study. You will receive 
$20.00 for completing the pre-surgery questionnaires and physical therapy tests, $20.00 total for the tests 
completed while you are in the hospital and then $60.00 when you complete the study tests at  Follow-Up 
Visit 2 after your surgery. (Possible total of $100.00 if you complete all study visits.)
In order to provide you with your reimbursement, you will receive a Greenphire ClinCard.  The 
Greenphire ClinCard is a MasterCard Debit Card and can be used anywhere MasterCard is accepted.  In 
order to receive your compensation via the ClinCard, we will need to send Greenphire your name, date of 
birth, address and social security number.  
This debit card will be activated and the funds will be loaded onto the card by the study team.  Please talk 
to the study team if you have any additional questions regarding the reimbursement ClinCard.
Study ID:Pro00001357   Date Approved: 1/16/2018   Modified Date: 1/11/2018


VA  Department of Veterans Affairs
VA  RESEARCH  CONSENT  FORM
(Page 15 of 16)
Subject Name:                                                             Last 4 SSN:                     Date: ______________              
Title of Study:  4-drug Nerve Block versus Plain Local Anesthetic for Knee and Hip Arthroplasty 
Analgesia in Veterans
Principal Investigator:  Brian A. Williams, MD, MBA                                      VAMC:    Pittsburgh (646) 
VA FORM  10-1086 JUNE 1990   (revised 03/2017)
RECORD RETENTION: 
Your research records will be retained in accordance with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) 
Records Control Schedule. 
RESEARCH SUBJECTS' RIGHTS:  
You have read or have had read to you all of the above, and any applicable consent addenda.  Dr. 
Williams or his authorized representative has explained the study and any optional study components to 
you and answered all of your questions.  The risks, discomforts, and possible benefits of this research 
study, as well as alternative treatment choices, have been explained to you.  
A description of the study has been provided to you, including an explanation of what this study is about, 
why it is being done, and the procedures involved. You have the right to ask questions related to this 
study or your participation in this study at any time.   You should be giving your consent only under 
conditions in which you (or the person representing you) have sufficient opportunity to carefully consider 
whether or not to participate in this study.  Your consent should not be given under conditions that 
pressure you or try to influence your decision in any way. 
Your rights as a research subject have been explained to you, and you voluntarily consent to participate in 
this research study.  You understand that these Research Subjects’ Rights also apply to any optional study 
components to which you have agreed to participate.  You will receive a copy of this signed consent form.
If you have any questions about your rights as a participant in this study, or wish to speak more about the 
study with someone not associated with the research study, you can call the Associate Chief of Staff for 
Research and Development at (412) 360-2394 
As long as the study is renewed as required by the IRB, your signature on this document is valid for the 
duration of the entire research study. Should any changes occur during the course of the study that may 
affect your willingness to participate, you will be notified.  
By signing this form, you agree to participate in this research study.
Study ID:Pro00001357   Date Approved: 1/16/2018   Modified Date: 1/11/2018


VA  Department of Veterans Affairs
VA  RESEARCH  CONSENT  FORM
(Page 16 of 16)
Subject Name:                                                             Last 4 SSN:                     Date: ______________              
Title of Study:  4-drug Nerve Block versus Plain Local Anesthetic for Knee and Hip Arthroplasty 
Analgesia in Veterans
Principal Investigator:  Brian A. Williams, MD, MBA                                      VAMC:    Pittsburgh (646) 
VA FORM  10-1086 JUNE 1990   (revised 03/2017)
_______________________________________    _______________________
__________
Subject's Signature                        
Date
Time 
_______________________________________      ________________________           __________
Investigator/Person Obtaining Consent*
Researcher (Print)
Date         
*If person other than the Investigator is obtaining consent, he/she must be approved by the IRB to 
administer informed consent.
Version Date:  January 11, 2018
Version #:  9.0
Study ID:Pro00001357   Date Approved: 1/16/2018   Modified Date: 1/11/2018


Page 1
VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (VAPHS), University Drive C, Pittsburgh, PA 15240
Brian Williams, MD
412-360-1602
4-drug Nerve Block versus Plain Local Anesthetic for Knee and Hip Arthroplasty Analgesia in Veterans
The purpose of this research study is to evaluate patient outcomes after two different forms of regional anesthesia and pain relief after having 
a full knee or hip replacement.  The study will compare two different ways to try to control pain following the surgery, and will specifically 
look at your self-reported and physical therapy progress after your surgery.  The study will evaluate the effectiveness of bupivacaine versus 
bupivacaine plus CBD (clonidine-buprenorphine-dexamethasone).
Information from your VA Health Records such as diagnoses, progress notes, medications, lab or radiology 
findings
Specific information concerning:
alcohol abuse
drug abuse
sickle cell anemia
HIV
Demographic Information such as name, age, race
Billing or Financial Records
Photographs, Digital Images, Video, or Audio Recordings
Questionnaire, Survey, and/or Subject Diary
Other as described:
February 24, 2017
Subject Name (Last, First, Middle Initial):
Subject SSN (last 4 only): Date of Birth:
VA FORM
SEPT 201510-0493
Version Date:
Authorization for Use and Release of Individually Identifiable Health 
Information Collected for VHA Research 
VA Facility (Name and Address):
VA Principal Investigator (PI):
PI Contact Information:
Study Title:
Purpose of Study:
USE OF YOUR INDIVIDUALLY IDENTIFIABLE HEALTH INFORMATION (IIHI):
Your individually identifiable health information is information about you that contains your health information and 
information that would identify you such as your name, date of birth, or other individual identifiers. VHA is asking you 
to allow the VA Principal Investigator (PI) and/or the VA research team members to access and use your past or 
present health information in addition to new health information they may collect for the study named above. The 
investigators of this study are committed to protecting your privacy and the confidentiality of information related to 
your health care.
Signing this authorization is completely voluntary. However, your authorization (permission) is necessary to 
participate in this study. Your treatment, payment, enrollment, or eligibility for VA benefits will not be affected, 
whether or not you sign this authorization.
Your individually identifiable health information used for this VA study includes the information marked below:


Authorization for Use & Release of Individually Identifiable Health Information for 
Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Research
Subject Name (Last, First, Middle Initial):
Subject SSN (last 4 only): Date of Birth:
VA FORM
SEPT 201510-0493
Version Date:
Page 2
February 24, 2017
Not Applicable - No Data or Specimen Banking for Other Research
An important part of this research is to save your
Data
Specimen
in a secure repository/bank for other research studies in the future. If you do not agree to allow this use of your data 
and/or specimen for future studies approved by the required committees, such as the Institutional Review Board, you 
will not be able to participate in this study.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    (Instruction: When banking or further analysis is an 
optional research activity, complete page 5 and leave this section blank. If banking is a required research activity to store "Data" 
and/or "Specimen" for future use or if "Not Applicable" is selected, remove page 5 in its entirety.)
USE OF YOUR DATA OR SPECIMENS FOR OTHER RESEARCH:
The VA research team may need to disclose the information listed above to other people or
institutions that are not part of VA. VA/VHA complies with the requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), Privacy Act of 1974 and all other applicable federal laws and regulations that
protect your privacy. The VHA Notice of Privacy Practices (a separate document) provides more information on how
we protect your information. If you do not have a copy of the Notice, the research team will provide one to you.
DISCLOSURE:
Giving your permission by signing this authorization allows us to disclose your information to other institutions or 
persons as noted below. Once your information has been disclosed outside VA/VHA, it  may no longer be protected 
by federal laws and regulations and might be re-disclosed by the persons or institutions receiving the information.
Non-VA Institutional Review Board (IRB) at 
who will monitor the study
University of Pittsburgh
Study Sponsor/Funding Source:
VA or non-VA person or entity who takes responsibility for; initiates, or funds this study
Department of Defense - USAMRMC
Academic Affiliate (institution/name/employee/department): 
A relationship with VA in the performance of this study
Compliance and Safety Monitors: 
Advises the Sponsor or PI regarding the continuing safety of this study
VA RCO, Michael Mangione, MD (VAPHS) - Independent Research Monitor, Pitt RCCO
Other Federal agencies required to monitor or oversee research (such as FDA, OHRP, GAO):
FDA, OHRP, GAO, VA OIG, DOD
A Non-Profit Corporation (name and specific purpose):
Veterans Research Foundation of Pittsburgh - participant payments
Other (e.g. name of contractor and specific purpose):
University of Pittsburgh - DSMB (De-identified data only), VAPHS Statcore - Data analysis, RedCAP - electronic data capture online
system, Greenphire - Patient Compensation


Authorization for Use & Release of Individually Identifiable Health Information for 
Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Research
Subject Name (Last, First, Middle Initial):
Subject SSN (last 4 only): Date of Birth:
VA FORM
SEPT 201510-0493
Version Date:
Page 3
February 24, 2017
Note: Offices within VA/VHA that are responsible for oversight of VA research such as the Office of Research
Oversight (ORO), the Office of Research and Development (ORD), the VA Office of Inspector General, the VA
Office of General Counsel, the VA IRB and Research and Development Committee may also have access to your
information in the performance of their VA/VHA job duties.
Access to your Individually Identifiable Health Information created or obtained in the course of this research:
While this study is being conducted, you
will have access to your research related health records
will not have access to your research related health records
This will not affect your VA healthcare including your doctor's ability to see your records as part of your normal care 
and will not affect your right to have access to the research records after the study is completed.
If you sign this authorization you may change your mind and revoke or take back your permission at
any time. You must do this in writing and must send your written request to the Principal Investigator for this study at
the following address:
REVOCATION:
If you revoke (take back) your permission, you will no longer be able to participate in this study but the benefits to 
which you are entitled will NOT be affected. If you revoke (take back) your permission, the research team may 
continue to use or disclose the information that it has already collected before you revoked (took back) your 
permission which the research team has relied upon for the research. Your written revocation is effective as soon as 
it is received by the study's Principal Investigator.
Unless you revoke (take back) your permission, your authorization to allow us to use and/or disclose
your information will:
EXPIRATION:
Expire at the end of this research study
Data use and collection will expire at the end of this research study.  Any study information that has been placed into a
repository to be used for future research will not expire.
Expire on the following date or event:
Not expire
Brian Williams, MD 
VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System 
University Drive C 
Pittsburgh, PA 15240


Authorization for Use & Release of Individually Identifiable Health Information for 
Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Research
Subject Name (Last, First, Middle Initial):
Subject SSN (last 4 only): Date of Birth:
VA FORM
SEPT 201510-0493
Version Date:
Page 4
February 24, 2017
TO BE FILLED OUT BY THE SUBJECT
Research Subject Signature. This permission (authorization) has been explained to me and I have been given the
opportunity to ask questions. If I believe that my privacy rights have been compromised, I may contact the VHA
facility Privacy Officer to file a verbal or written complaint.
I give my authorization (permission) for the use and disclosure of my individually identifiable health information as 
described in this form. I will be given a signed copy of this form for my records.
Signature of Research Subject
Date
Signature of Legal Representative (if applicable)
Date
To Sign for Research Subject (Attach authority to sign: Health Care Power of Attorney, Legal Guardian appointment, 
or Next of Kin if authorized by State Law)
Name of Legal Representative (please print)