Spinal Anaesthesia vs. General Anaesthesia for THA, TKA and UKA (RCT SAGA)

May 1, 2025 updated by: Anders Troelsen

Randomized Trial on Spinal Anaesthesia vs. General Anaesthesia (SAGA) on Recovery After Total Hip, Total Knee, and Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty

The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to investigate the postoperative recovery following hip and knee arthroplasty procedures depending on the use of either spinal anaesthesia (SA) or general anaesthesia (GA).

The main questions are:

  • Are more patients able to be safely mobilized within 6 hours postoperatively when using GA compared to SA?
  • Does postoperative pain, nausea and vomiting, dizzyness, occurence of delirium and urinary retention differ between the anaesthetic methods?

Participants, scheduled for total hip, total knee and unicomartmental knee arthroplasty, will be randomized to recieve spinal anaesthesia or general anaesthesia in relation to surgery. At 6 hours postoperatively a physiotherapist will conduct a 5-meter walking test to evaluate whether the participant can be safely mobilized.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
222

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Denmark
      • Hvidovre, Denmark, 2650
        • Christian Bredgaard Jensen
      • Vejle, Denmark, 7100
        • Vejle Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Clinical and radiological hip or knee osteoarthritis meeting the indications for primary total hip, total knee, or unicompartmental knee arthroplasty.
  • ≥18 years of age.
  • Able to speak and understand Danish
  • Able to give informed consent and must be cognitively intact.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Lives in an institution.
  • Uses walking aid such as a walker or a wheelchair.
  • Terminal illness.
  • Has contraindications for either general or spinal anaesthesia.
  • Has objections to receiving either general or spinal anaesthesia.
  • Requires anxiolytics as premedication prior to anaesthesia.
  • Traumatic aetiology as a basis for surgical indication.
  • Altered pain perception and / or neurologic affection due to diabetes or other disorders.
  • Daily preoperative use of opioids > 30 mg of morphine milligram equivalents (MME).
  • Standard primary arthroplasty procedure is evaluated not to be suitable.
  • Women considered fertile but without sufficient birth control.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Spinal Anaesthesia (SA)

Patients undergoing total hip, total knee or unicompartmental knee arthroplasty are anaesthetized using:

Plain or heavy Bupivacaine hydrochloride 10 mg (2 mL)
Drug: Spinal anesthesia
plain or heavy Bupivacaine hydrochloride 10 mg (2 mL) injected in the spinal canal
Other Names:
  • Spinal anaesthesia
Experimental: General Anaesthesia (GA)

Patients undergoing total hip, total knee or unicompartmental knee arthroplasty are anaesthetized using:

Propofol (induction: 1.0-2.0 mg/kg. infusion: 3-5 mg/kg/hour) + Remifentanil (induction: 3-5 mcg/kg, infusion: 0.5 mcg/kg/min)
Drug: General anaesthesia
Propofol (induction: 1.0-2.0 mg/kg. infusion: 3-5 mg/kg/hour) + Remifentanil (induction: 3-5 mcg/kg, infusion: 0.5 mcg/kg/min) given intravenously

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Ability to be mobilsed safely within 6 hours of surgery
Time Frame: within 6 hours postoperatively.
5-meter walking test where a physiotherapist evaluates whether the participant can be safely mobilized within 6 hours of surgery.
within 6 hours postoperatively.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Pain score
Time Frame: On the day of surgery: at 4 hours postoperatively and 6 hours postoperatively. From postoperative day 1 and until discharge (on average 1 day): at 10.00 and at 18.00. This will be asses as long as the patient is admitted.
Will be recorded during rest and 5-m walk using participant evaluated NRS of 0 to 10, with 10 being worst pain/dizziness/nausea imaginable. This will be recorded at 4 and 6 hours post-operatively on the day of surgery and at 10:00 and 18:00 on the following postoperative days.
On the day of surgery: at 4 hours postoperatively and 6 hours postoperatively. From postoperative day 1 and until discharge (on average 1 day): at 10.00 and at 18.00. This will be asses as long as the patient is admitted.
Nausea Score
Time Frame: On the day of surgery: at 4 hours postoperatively and 6 hours postoperatively. From postoperative day 1 and until discharge (on average 1 day): at 10.00 and at 18.00. This will be asses as long as the patient is admitted.
Will be recorded during rest and 5-m walk using participant evaluated NRS of 0 to 10, with 10 being worst pain/dizziness/nausea imaginable. This will be recorded at 4 and 6 hours post-operatively on the day of surgery and at 10:00 and 18:00 on the following postoperative days.
On the day of surgery: at 4 hours postoperatively and 6 hours postoperatively. From postoperative day 1 and until discharge (on average 1 day): at 10.00 and at 18.00. This will be asses as long as the patient is admitted.
Fulfilment of discharge criteria
Time Frame: On the day of surgery: at 4 hours postoperatively and 6 hours postoperatively. From postoperative day 1 and until discharge (on average 1 day): at 10.00 and at 18.00. This will be asses as long as the patient is admitted.
Dichotomous (Yes or No)
On the day of surgery: at 4 hours postoperatively and 6 hours postoperatively. From postoperative day 1 and until discharge (on average 1 day): at 10.00 and at 18.00. This will be asses as long as the patient is admitted.
Opioid use in Morphine Milligram Equivilents within the first 6 hours of surgery
Time Frame: On the day of surgery: Within the first 6 hours after surgery.
Cumulated opioid use in Morphine Milligram Equivalents.
On the day of surgery: Within the first 6 hours after surgery.

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Vital signs - systolic blood pressure
Time Frame: On the day of surgery: at 4 hours postoperatively and 6 hours postoperatively. From postoperative day 1 and until discharge (on average 1 day): at 10.00 and at 18.00. This will be asses as long as the patient is admitted.
Systolic blood pressure (mmHg).
On the day of surgery: at 4 hours postoperatively and 6 hours postoperatively. From postoperative day 1 and until discharge (on average 1 day): at 10.00 and at 18.00. This will be asses as long as the patient is admitted.
Vital signs - diastolic blood pressure
Time Frame: On the day of surgery: at 4 hours postoperatively and 6 hours postoperatively. From postoperative day 1 and until discharge (on average 1 day): at 10.00 and at 18.00. This will be asses as long as the patient is admitted.
Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg).
On the day of surgery: at 4 hours postoperatively and 6 hours postoperatively. From postoperative day 1 and until discharge (on average 1 day): at 10.00 and at 18.00. This will be asses as long as the patient is admitted.
Quality of Recovery-15 score
Time Frame: On the day of surgery: at 4 hours postoperatively. From postoperative day 1 and until discharge (on average 1 day): at 10.00. This will be asses as long as the patient is admitted.
Four hours postoperatively on the day of surgery and at 10:00 on the following
On the day of surgery: at 4 hours postoperatively. From postoperative day 1 and until discharge (on average 1 day): at 10.00. This will be asses as long as the patient is admitted.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Anders Troelsen

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Vejle Hospital

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Anders Troelsen, MD, DMSc, Hvidovre University Hospital

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
March 6, 2023

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
April 6, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
April 6, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
January 11, 2023

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
January 30, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
January 31, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 4, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 1, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
May 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 2022-501221-21-00

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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