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Not yet taking people in United StatesPhase 4

Needle size and numbing spray for pain during knee steroid injections in knee osteoarthritis

Compares two needle sizes and a numbing spray for knee injection pain.

Key facts

Who runs it
University of California, Davis
Where
Sacramento, United StatesSee the site
Trial code
Registry title
Pain Perception During Intra-Articular Knee Joint Injection: What is the Effect of Needle Gauge and the Use of Ethyl Chloride?
Status
Not yet recruiting
Phase
Phase 4
People taking part
88 people, planned
Starts
Dec 2026
Expected to end
Dec 2026
Type of study
Interventional, 4 groupsOne group gets a placebo (a dummy treatment), for comparison.
Treatments tested
  • 25 gauge needle
  • 22 gauge needle
  • +/- Ethyl Chloride Topical Aerosol Anesthetic
Record updated
16 September 2026

Who can take part

AI summary

From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.

The trial is looking for adults aged 40 or older with knee osteoarthritis who agreed to a steroid injection into the knee joint. It compares two needle sizes and a numbing cold spray (ethyl chloride) against a placebo spray.

Age
40 Years to 89 Years
Sex
All sexes can join.
Disease stage
Knee osteoarthritis that meets the American College of Rheumatology criteria. Knee pain and/or loss of function must be confirmed by a doctor's exam. One or both knees can be affected.
Earlier treatment
People must never have used ethyl chloride spray before. No steroid injection in the knee in the past 3 months. No hyaluronic acid or platelet-rich plasma injection in the knee in the past 6 months.

Main reasons for not taking part

  • Knee arthroscopy (keyhole surgery) on the knee being treated in the past 6 months
  • Steroid injection in the knee in the past 3 months
  • Hyaluronic acid or platelet-rich plasma knee injection in the past 6 months
  • Fluid in the knee that needs to be drained at the time of the procedure
  • Problems with memory or thinking (cognitive impairment)

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 12 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

  • age ≥ 40 years
  • fulfillment of the American College of Rheumatology criteria for knee OA
  • confirmation of knee-related pain and/or functional loss by clinical examination
  • Patients with either; bilateral knee OA/injections, or; unilateral knee OA/injections
  • Agreed to an intra-articular knee joint injection with steroids
  • Naive to use of ethyl chloride

Who cannot take part

  • Arthroscopy of the index knee(s) within the prior 6 months
  • Steroid injection of the knee(s) within the prior 3 months
  • Patient reported prior injection of any type with ethyl chloride spray
  • Hyaluronic acid or platelet-rich plasma injection of the knee within the prior 6 months
  • Knee effusion requiring aspiration at the time of the procedure
  • Cognitively impaired individuals

Check if you might fit

Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.

  • Are you between 40 and 89 years old?

Where in United States

  • UC Davis Sports Medicine ClinicSacramento, United StatesContact: Daniel Herman, MD, PhDNot yet recruiting

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

This study aims to investigate factors that affect the subjective experience of pain during and after intra-articular knee joint injection of steroids by comparing needle gauge size (22 G vs 25 G needles), as well as the presence or absence of topical ethyl chloride spray. Additionally, this study will investigate the effects of other various factors on patients' pain associated with the injection. Lastly, this study aims to determine the effect of patients' subjective pain from the injection on long-term clinical outcomes.

Read full original descriptionShow less

Specific aims are as follows:

Aim 1): Determine the effect of needle gauge size on patient reported pain associated with an ultrasound-guided intra-articular knee injection.

Aim 2): Determine the effect of ethyl chloride spray on patient reported pain associated with an ultrasound-guided intra-articular knee injection.

Aim 3): Determine the effect of sex, age, BMI, thigh size, severity of OA, and fear of needles on patient pain associated with an ultrasound-guided intra-articular knee injection.

Aim 4) Determine the effect of patient pain from the procedure on longer term clinical outcomes after an ultrasound-guided intra-articular knee steroid injection.

Researchers will obtain data at various time points, including pre-procedural data, immediately after the procedure, 24-48 hours after, and 6 weeks post-procedure.

Participants will:

Consent to receiving an intra-articular knee joint injection with steroids if indicated.

Score their "procedural" pain immediately following the procedure, score their post-procedural "soreness" 24-48 hours after via telephone call, and score their overall knee pain about 6 weeks after the procedure via telephone call.

The 4 groups in the trial

  • 22 Gauge Needle WITH Ethyl Chloride sprayTreatment being tested

    This group will receive an intra-articular knee joint injection using a 22 gauge needle, and will be pre-anesthetized with ethyl chloride spray

    Treatment: 22 gauge needle and +/- Ethyl Chloride Topical Aerosol Anesthetic

  • 25 Gauge Needle WITH Ethyl Chloride sprayTreatment being tested

    This group will receive an intra-articular knee joint injection using a 25 gauge needle, and will be pre-anesthetized with ethyl chloride spray

    Treatment: 25 gauge needle and +/- Ethyl Chloride Topical Aerosol Anesthetic

  • 22 Gauge Needle WITHOUT Ethyl Chloride sprayPlacebo, for comparison

    This group will receive an intra-articular knee joint injection using a 22 gauge needle, and will be pre-anesthetized with a PLACEBO spray

    Treatment: 22 gauge needle and +/- Ethyl Chloride Topical Aerosol Anesthetic

  • 25 Gauge Needle WITHOUT Ethyl Chloride sprayPlacebo, for comparison

    This group will receive an intra-articular knee joint injection using a 25 gauge needle, and will be pre-anesthetized with a PLACEBO spray

    Treatment: 25 gauge needle and +/- Ethyl Chloride Topical Aerosol Anesthetic

Questions to ask the study team

  1. How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
  2. Are travel costs paid?
  3. Can I keep my own doctor?
  4. What happens if I want to stop?

Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations

Print a page for my doctor

Data and sources

Registry record
Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Official title
Pain Perception During Intra-Articular Knee Joint Injection: What is the Effect of Needle Gauge and the Use of Ethyl Chloride?
Plain-language title
Needle size and numbing spray for pain during knee steroid injections in knee osteoarthritisGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 14 November 2026.
Fit questions
Built from NCT06865170, who can take part
Record updated
16 September 2026
Pain Perception During Intra-Articular Knee Joint Injection: What is the Effect of Needle Gauge and the Use of Ethyl Chloride? (NCT06865170) – Frontlight Research