Pain Perception During Intra-Articular Knee Joint Injection: What is the Effect of Needle Gauge and the Use of Ethyl Chloride?

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. 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.

NCT Number	NCT06865170
Lead Sponsor	University of California, Davis
Conditions	Osteoarthritis (OA) of the Knee, Fear of Needles
Enrollment	88 participants
Start Date	2026-08
Primary Completion	2026-12 (estimated)
Study Completion	2026-12 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-06-29