Dilute Epinephrine vs Tourniquet for Visualization in Ankle Arthroscopy: A RCT

This multicenter, prospective randomized controlled trial investigates the effect of dilute epinephrine irrigation versus tourniquet use on visual field clarity (VFC) during ankle arthroscopy. Patients are randomized into an epinephrine group (normal saline with 1 mL of 1:1000 epinephrine per 3 L bag; tourniquet placed but not inflated unless needed) or a standard tourniquet group. The primary outcome is arthroscopic visual field clarity assessed using a 4-point Likert-style numeric rating scale. Secondary outcomes include postoperative pain intensity at 2 and 24 hours (VAS), and the incidence of hypotension, bradycardia, and cardiovascular adverse events.

NCT Number	NCT07349407
Lead Sponsor	Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University
Conditions	Chronic Ankle Instability, Ankle Ligament Injury, Ankle Arthroscopy
Enrollment	88 participants
Start Date	2025-12-30
Primary Completion	2026-11-30 (estimated)
Study Completion	2026-12-30 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-01-16