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Femoral Nerve Block With Liposome Bupivacaine for Postsurgical Analgesia Following Total Knee Arthroplasty

A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel-Group, Placebo-Controlled, Dose Ranging Study to Evaluate the Safety, Efficacy, and Pharmacokinetics of Single Injection Femoral Nerve Block With Liposome Bupivacaine for Postsurgical Analgesia in Subjects Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01683071
Enrollment
297
Registered
2012-09-11
Start date
2012-09-30
Completion date
2013-12-31
Last updated
2020-12-09

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Postoperative Pain

Keywords

Total knee arthroplasty, Analgesia, Pain management

Brief summary

The primary objectives of Part 1 are to (1) evaluate three dose levels of liposome bupivacaine versus placebo with respect to the magnitude and duration of the analgesic effect achieved following single dose injection femoral nerve block with liposome bupivacaine, and (2) select a single therapeutic dose of liposome bupivacaine from the three dose levels to be tested in Part 2. Part 2: The primary objective of Part 2 is to compare the magnitude and duration of the analgesic effect of single injection femoral nerve block of a single dose level of liposome bupivacaine (selected from Part 1) with placebo (preservative-free normal saline).

Detailed description

This is a Phase 2/3, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging study in subjects undergoing primary unilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) under general or spinal anesthesia. Note: Bupivacaine cannot be used as the spinal anesthetic. Part 1 During Part 1 of the study, approximately 100 subjects (25 per treatment arm) will be randomized to receive a single dose injection femoral nerve block with either one of three doses of liposome bupivacaine (67, 133, or 266 mg) or placebo in 20 mL under ultrasound guidance. Preservative-free normal saline will be added to the 67 mg and 133 mg doses of study drug to achieve a volume of 20 mL. Part 2 In Part 2 of the study, approximately 180 subjects (randomized 1:1, resulting in approximately 90 liposome bupivacaine subjects and 90 placebo subjects) will receive a single dose injection femoral nerve block with the selected dose level of liposome bupivacaine (i.e., 67, 133, or 266 mg) or placebo in 20 mL under ultrasound guidance.

Interventions

DRUGPlacebo

Normal saline 20 mL as single-injection femoral nerve block prior to total knee arthroplasty

DRUGEXPAREL 67 mg

5 mL EXPAREL expanded with 15 mL normal saline as single-injection femoral nerve block prior to total knee arthroplasty

DRUGEXPAREL 133 mg

10 mL EXPAREL expanded with 10 mL normal saline as single-injection femoral nerve block prior to total knee arthroplasty

20 mL EXPAREL as single-injection femoral nerve block prior to total knee arthroplasty

Sponsors

Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc
Lead SponsorINDUSTRY

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. Male or female, \>=18 years of age. 2. Scheduled to undergo primary unilateral TKA under general or spinal anesthesia. 3. American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Status 1, 2, or 3. 4. Able to demonstrate motor function by performing a 20-meter walk, unassisted with the optional use of a 4-legged walker, and sensory function by exhibiting sensitivity to cold. 5. Able to provide informed consent, adhere to the study visit schedule, and complete all study assessments.

Exclusion criteria

1. Currently pregnant, nursing, or planning to become pregnant during the study or within 1 month after study drug administration. Female subjects must be surgically sterile, at least 2 years menopausal, or using an acceptable method of birth control. If of childbearing potential, must have a documented negative pregnancy test within 24 hours before surgery. 2. Planned concurrent surgical procedure (e.g., bilateral TKA). 3. Use of any of the following medications within the times specified before surgery: long-acting opioid medication, NSAIDs, aspirin (except for low-dose aspirin used for cardioprotection) or acetaminophen within 3 days, or and any opioid medication within 24 hours. 4. Concurrent painful physical condition or concurrent surgery that may require analgesic treatment (such as an NSAID or opioid) in the postsurgical period for pain that is not strictly related to the surgical site administered study treatment, and which may confound the postsurgical assessments (e.g., significant pain from other joints including the non-index knee joint, chronic neuropathic pain, prior contralateral TKA, concurrent foot surgery). 5. Initiation of treatment with any of the following medications within 1 month of study drug administration or if the medication(s) are being given to control pain: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), selective norepinepherine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), gabapentin, pregabalin (Lyrica®), or duloxetine (Cymbalta®). 6. Current use of systemic glucocorticosteroids within 1 month of enrollment in this study. 7. Body weight \< 50 kilograms (110 pounds) or a body mass index ≥ 40 kg/m2. 8. Contraindication to hydromorphone, oxycodone, or bupivacaine. 9. Administration of an investigational drug within 30 days or 5 elimination half-lives of such investigational drug, whichever is longer, prior to study drug administration, or planned administration of another investigational product or procedure during the subject's participation in this study. 10. Previous participation in a liposome bupivacaine study. 11. History of, suspected, or known addiction to or abuse of illicit drug(s), prescription medicine(s), or alcohol within the past 2 years. 12. Failure to pass the urine drug screen. 13. Uncontrolled anxiety, schizophrenia, or other psychiatric disorder that, in the opinion of the Investigator, could interfere with study assessments or compliance. 14. Malignancy in the last 2 years, with the exception of non-metastatic basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or localized carcinoma in situ of the cervix. 15. Current or historical evidence of any clinically significant disease or condition, especially cardiovascular or neurological conditions that, in the opinion of the Investigator, may increase the risk of surgery or complicate the subject's postsurgical course. 16. Significant medical conditions or laboratory results that, in the opinion of the Investigator, indicate an increased vulnerability to study drugs and procedures. 17. Subjects who are planned to receive Entereg® (alvimopan). 18. Subjects who will receive prophylactic antiemetics or planned postsurgical antiemetics given without regard to the subject's emesis needs. 19. Use of dexmedetomidine HCl (Precedex®) within 3 days of surgery.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Area Under the Curve (AUC) of Numeric Rating Scale at Rest (NRS-R) Pain Intensity Scores Through 72 Hours0-72 hoursAUC of NRS-R pain intensity scores through 72 hours. Pain intensity scores were measured on an 11-point NRS (0=no pain and 10=worst possible pain)

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Total Postsurgical Opioid Consumption Through 72 Hours0-72 hoursTotal postsurgical opioid consumption of opioid rescue pain medication (converted to IV morphine equivalents) through 72 hours
Time to First Opioid Rescue Through 72 Hours0-72 hoursTime to first opioid rescue medication consumed through 72 hours

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Recruitment details

Participants were recruited between September 24, 2012 and December 20, 2013 at 23 sites in the US

Pre-assignment details

An unblinded dose selection committee reviewed Part 1 results for the primary endpoint, total postsurgical opioid consumption, time to first opioid rescue, and safety data, and recommended a dose level and sample size for Part 2.

Participants by arm

ArmCount
(Part 1) EXPAREL 67 mg
5 mL EXPAREL (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension) expanded with 15 mL normal saline as single-injection femoral nerve block ≤2 h preoperatively
22
(Part 1) EXPAREL 133 mg
10 mL EXPAREL (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension) expanded with 10 mL normal saline as single-injection femoral nerve block ≤2 h preoperatively
24
(Part 1) EXPAREL 266 mg
20 mL EXPAREL (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension) as single-injection femoral nerve block ≤2 h preoperatively
24
(Part 1) Placebo
20 mL normal saline as single-injection femoral nerve block ≤2 h preoperatively
24
(Part 2) EXPAREL 266 mg
20 mL EXPAREL (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension) as single-injection femoral nerve block ≤2 h preoperatively
92
(Part 2) Placebo
20 mL normal saline as single-injection femoral nerve block ≤2 h preoperatively
92
Total278

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001FG002FG003FG004FG005
Part 1Did not receive study drug100100
Part 1Early termination; met exclusion criteria021000
Part 1Lack of Efficacy100300
Part 1Surgery Cancelled100000
Part 1Withdrawal by Subject122100
Part 2Did not receive study drug000021
Part 2Lack of Efficacy000034
Part 2Lost to Follow-up000020
Part 2Met exclusion criterion000011
Part 2Protocol deviation000012
Part 2Surgery cancelled000042
Part 2Withdrawal by investigator decision000012
Part 2Withdrawal by Subject000033

Baseline characteristics

Characteristic(Part 2) Placebo(Part 1) EXPAREL 67 mg(Part 1) EXPAREL 133 mg(Part 1) EXPAREL 266 mg(Part 1) Placebo(Part 2) EXPAREL 266 mgTotal
Age, Continuous63.6 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 8.76
68.5 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 8.41
65.7 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.3
66.4 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 8.94
66.1 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 12.17
66.4 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.35
65.0 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.67
American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification
1
3 Participants0 Participants0 Participants1 Participants0 Participants7 Participants11 Participants
American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification
2
49 Participants11 Participants16 Participants13 Participants15 Participants38 Participants142 Participants
American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification
3
40 Participants11 Participants8 Participants10 Participants9 Participants47 Participants125 Participants
American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification
>/= 4
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Duration of Surgery94.9 minutes
STANDARD_DEVIATION 37.54
85.8 minutes
STANDARD_DEVIATION 25.53
88.5 minutes
STANDARD_DEVIATION 27.96
96.0 minutes
STANDARD_DEVIATION 37.94
85.0 minutes
STANDARD_DEVIATION 35.53
94.1 minutes
STANDARD_DEVIATION 34.43
94.5 minutes
STANDARD_DEVIATION 35.9
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
9 Participants1 Participants1 Participants2 Participants3 Participants8 Participants24 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
83 Participants21 Participants23 Participants22 Participants21 Participants84 Participants254 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Incision length16.29 cm
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.189
16.51 cm
STANDARD_DEVIATION 2.457
14.98 cm
STANDARD_DEVIATION 3.65
15.23 cm
STANDARD_DEVIATION 2.834
18.25 cm
STANDARD_DEVIATION 3.87
16.92 cm
STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.987
16.6 cm
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.08
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
1 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants1 Participants0 Participants1 Participants0 Participants2 Participants4 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
14 Participants1 Participants2 Participants2 Participants4 Participants15 Participants38 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
1 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
76 Participants20 Participants22 Participants21 Participants20 Participants75 Participants234 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
92 participants22 participants24 participants24 participants24 participants92 participants278 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
57 Participants8 Participants16 Participants14 Participants14 Participants52 Participants161 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
35 Participants14 Participants8 Participants10 Participants10 Participants40 Participants117 Participants
Type of Anesthesia
General
56 Participants15 Participants17 Participants12 Participants21 Participants62 Participants183 Participants
Type of Anesthesia
Other
0 Participants1 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants2 Participants3 Participants
Type of Anesthesia
Spinal
35 Participants6 Participants7 Participants12 Participants3 Participants28 Participants91 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
EG002
affected / at risk
EG003
affected / at risk
EG004
affected / at risk
EG005
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 220 / 240 / 240 / 240 / 920 / 92
other
Total, other adverse events
19 / 2220 / 2421 / 2421 / 2482 / 9283 / 92
serious
Total, serious adverse events
4 / 222 / 241 / 243 / 248 / 929 / 92

Outcome results

Primary

Area Under the Curve (AUC) of Numeric Rating Scale at Rest (NRS-R) Pain Intensity Scores Through 72 Hours

AUC of NRS-R pain intensity scores through 72 hours. Pain intensity scores were measured on an 11-point NRS (0=no pain and 10=worst possible pain)

Time frame: 0-72 hours

Population: Efficacy population: all participants in the safety analysis set who underwent the planned surgery, with analysis based on randomized treatment (regardless of treatment received)

ArmMeasureValue (LEAST_SQUARES_MEAN)Dispersion
(Part 1) EXPAREL 67 mgArea Under the Curve (AUC) of Numeric Rating Scale at Rest (NRS-R) Pain Intensity Scores Through 72 Hours533.4 score on a scale * hrStandard Deviation 33.15
(Part 1) EXPAREL 133 mgArea Under the Curve (AUC) of Numeric Rating Scale at Rest (NRS-R) Pain Intensity Scores Through 72 Hours427.2 score on a scale * hrStandard Deviation 31.73
(Part 1) EXPAREL 266 mgArea Under the Curve (AUC) of Numeric Rating Scale at Rest (NRS-R) Pain Intensity Scores Through 72 Hours436.2 score on a scale * hrStandard Deviation 31.79
(Part 1) PlaceboArea Under the Curve (AUC) of Numeric Rating Scale at Rest (NRS-R) Pain Intensity Scores Through 72 Hours530.5 score on a scale * hrStandard Deviation 31.73
(Part 2) EXPAREL 266 mgArea Under the Curve (AUC) of Numeric Rating Scale at Rest (NRS-R) Pain Intensity Scores Through 72 Hours418.9 score on a scale * hrStandard Deviation 16.86
(Part 2) PlaceboArea Under the Curve (AUC) of Numeric Rating Scale at Rest (NRS-R) Pain Intensity Scores Through 72 Hours515.5 score on a scale * hrStandard Deviation 16.95
p-value: 0.949495% CI: [-88, 94]ANCOVA
p-value: 0.023795% CI: [-192, -14]ANCOVA
p-value: 0.038695% CI: [-184, -5]ANCOVA
p-value: <0.000195% CI: [-144, -49]ANCOVA
Secondary

Time to First Opioid Rescue Through 72 Hours

Time to first opioid rescue medication consumed through 72 hours

Time frame: 0-72 hours

Population: Efficacy population: all participants in the safety analysis set who underwent the planned surgery, with analysis based on randomized treatment (regardless of treatment received)

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
(Part 1) EXPAREL 67 mgTime to First Opioid Rescue Through 72 Hours0.49 hours
(Part 1) EXPAREL 133 mgTime to First Opioid Rescue Through 72 Hours0.37 hours
(Part 1) EXPAREL 266 mgTime to First Opioid Rescue Through 72 Hours1.29 hours
(Part 1) PlaceboTime to First Opioid Rescue Through 72 Hours0.41 hours
(Part 2) EXPAREL 266 mgTime to First Opioid Rescue Through 72 Hours0.44 hours
(Part 2) PlaceboTime to First Opioid Rescue Through 72 Hours0.43 hours
Secondary

Total Postsurgical Opioid Consumption Through 72 Hours

Total postsurgical opioid consumption of opioid rescue pain medication (converted to IV morphine equivalents) through 72 hours

Time frame: 0-72 hours

Population: Efficacy population: all participants in the safety analysis set who underwent the planned surgery, with analysis based on randomized treatment (regardless of treatment received)

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
(Part 1) EXPAREL 67 mgTotal Postsurgical Opioid Consumption Through 72 Hours126.69 mg morphine equivalentsStandard Deviation 75.972
(Part 1) EXPAREL 133 mgTotal Postsurgical Opioid Consumption Through 72 Hours100.35 mg morphine equivalentsStandard Deviation 53.177
(Part 1) EXPAREL 266 mgTotal Postsurgical Opioid Consumption Through 72 Hours105.96 mg morphine equivalentsStandard Deviation 53.402
(Part 1) PlaceboTotal Postsurgical Opioid Consumption Through 72 Hours124.78 mg morphine equivalentsStandard Deviation 58.743
(Part 2) EXPAREL 266 mgTotal Postsurgical Opioid Consumption Through 72 Hours93.19 mg morphine equivalentsStandard Deviation 58.133
(Part 2) PlaceboTotal Postsurgical Opioid Consumption Through 72 Hours122.08 mg morphine equivalentsStandard Deviation 70.312
p-value: 0.618295% CI: [0.6, 1.3]ANOVA
p-value: 0.109795% CI: [0.5, 1.1]ANOVA
p-value: 0.404695% CI: [0.6, 1.3]ANOVA
p-value: 0.001695% CI: [0.6, 0.9]ANOVA

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026