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Improving Pain and Reducing Opioid Use (IPaRO) in Lumbar Spine Surgery Patients

Comparative Effectiveness of Multi-modal Pain Management Versus Standard Intra- and Post-operative Analgesia: Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial to Reduce Post-operative Pain and Opioid Use Among Patients Undergoing Lumbar Spine Surgery

Status
Completed
Phases
Early Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03088306
Acronym
IPaRO
Enrollment
49
Registered
2017-03-23
Start date
2017-07-01
Completion date
2018-08-31
Last updated
2018-10-16

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

Conditions

Lumbar Spinal Instability, Lumbar Spinal Stenosis, Lumbar Spine Degeneration

Brief summary

Patients presenting for lumbar spine surgery experience pain related to their spine condition. Following surgery, these patients also experience surgical pain resulting from disruption of skin, muscle tissue, vertebrae, intervertebral discs, and facet joints. This pain is often treated with opioid medications - with roughly 40% of patient experiencing sub-optimal pain management. Adequate pain control has become a top priority among professional societies, healthcare systems, and accrediting agencies. The current proposal will provide this critical evidence of feasibility and acceptability of a multi-modal pain management plan for patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery. Additionally, this study will provide critical preliminary data to compare the effectiveness of protocol-driven multi-modal pain management to control post-operative pain, reduce opioid medication use, and improve physical activity, sleep, and health.

Detailed description

Patients presenting for lumbar spine surgery experience pain related to their spine condition. Following surgery, these patients also experience surgical pain resulting from disruption of skin, muscle tissue, vertebrae, intervertebral discs, and facet joints. Proper pain management is necessary to reduce pain-related and medication side effects and to promote rehabilitation. This pain is often treated with opioid medications - with roughly 40% of patient experiencing sub-optimal pain management. Adequate pain control has become a top priority among professional societies, healthcare systems, and accrediting agencies. Multi-modal pain management strategies have been proposed to (1) control pre-operative pain related to spine pathology; (2) employ non-opioid medication peri-operatively to pre-empt post-operative surgical pain; and (3) monitor and control pain intensity before and after surgery. There is a demonstrated lack of evidence regarding optimal post-operative protocols and pathways. The investigators have planned a randomized clinical trial to compare the effectiveness of two methods of peri-operative pain management to reduce post-operative pain and opioid use among patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery. Prior to submission to National Institutes of Health (NIH), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), or Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), it is necessary to demonstrate the feasibility and acceptability of the trial protocol. The current proposal will provide this critical evidence of feasibility and acceptability of a multi-modal pain management plan for patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery. Additionally, this study will provide critical preliminary data to compare the effectiveness of protocol-driven multi-modal pain management to control post-operative pain, reduce opioid medication use, and improve physical activity, sleep, and health.

Interventions

DRUGStandard analgesia use [Oxygen]

A protocol directed and clinically appropriate post-operative analgesia. In this study, standard post-operative analgesia is defined as: oxygen, volatile anesthesia, fentanyl, hydromorphone.

DRUGStandard analgesia use [Hydromorphone]

A protocol directed and clinically appropriate post-operative analgesia. In this study, standard post-operative analgesia is defined as: oxygen, volatile anesthesia, fentanyl, hydromorphone.

DRUGStandard analgesia use [Volatile Anesthesia]

A protocol directed and clinically appropriate post-operative analgesia. In this study, standard post-operative analgesia is defined as: oxygen, volatile anesthesia, fentanyl, hydromorphone.

DRUGStandard analgesia use [Fentanyl]

A protocol directed and clinically appropriate post-operative analgesia. In this study, standard post-operative analgesia is defined as: oxygen, volatile anesthesia, fentanyl, hydromorphone.

DRUGMulti-modal pain management [Acetaminophen + Gabapentin]

Administration of acetaminophen (1 gm po) plus gabapentin (600-1200 mg po) in the preparation area prior to surgery; pre-induction opioid titration with fentanyl until pain is relieved and/or respiratory depression ensues; intravenous ketamine (1 mg/kg load prior to incision then 10 mcg/kg/min) during surgery; acetaminophen, valium plus gabapentin during hospitalization; and prescription for acetaminophen, valium plus gabapentin at discharge.

DRUGMulti-modal pain management [Fentanyl]

Administration of acetaminophen (1 gm po) plus gabapentin (600-1200 mg po) in the preparation area prior to surgery; pre-induction opioid titration with fentanyl until pain is relieved and/or respiratory depression ensues; intravenous ketamine (1 mg/kg load prior to incision then 10 mcg/kg/min) during surgery; acetaminophen, valium plus gabapentin during hospitalization; and prescription for acetaminophen, valium plus gabapentin at discharge.

DRUGMulti-modal pain management [Intravenous Ketamine]

Administration of acetaminophen (1 gm po) plus gabapentin (600-1200 mg po) in the preparation area prior to surgery; pre-induction opioid titration with fentanyl until pain is relieved and/or respiratory depression ensues; intravenous ketamine (1 mg/kg load prior to incision then 10 mcg/kg/min) during surgery; acetaminophen, valium plus gabapentin during hospitalization; and prescription for acetaminophen, valium plus gabapentin at discharge.

DRUGMulti-modal pain management [Valium + Gabapentin]

Administration of acetaminophen (1 gm po) plus gabapentin (600-1200 mg po) in the preparation area prior to surgery; pre-induction opioid titration with fentanyl until pain is relieved and/or respiratory depression ensues; intravenous ketamine (1 mg/kg load prior to incision then 10 mcg/kg/min) during surgery; acetaminophen, valium plus gabapentin during hospitalization; and prescription for acetaminophen, valium plus gabapentin at discharge.

Sponsors

North American Spine Society
CollaboratorUNKNOWN
Johns Hopkins University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Caregiver, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 100 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Eligible participants will be English-speaking adults who are presenting to a spine surgeon (orthopaedic or neurosurgeon) for surgical treatment of a lumbar degenerative condition (spinal stenosis, spondylosis with or without myelopathy, and degenerative spondylolisthesis) using laminectomy with or without arthrodesis (i.e. fusion).

Exclusion criteria

* A microsurgical technique as the primary procedure, such as an isolated laminotomy or microdiscectomy. * Spinal deformity as the primary indication for surgery. * Spine surgery secondary to pseudarthrosis, trauma, infection, or tumor. * Back and/or lower extremity pain \< 3 months indicating no history of sub-acute or chronic pain. * History of neurological disorder or disease, resulting in moderate to severe movement dysfunction. * Presence of schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder. * Patient refusal to participate. * Known allergic reactions to any of the study medications * Surgery under a workman's compensation claim. * Not able to return to clinic for standard follow-up visits with surgeon. * Unable to provide a stable address and access to a telephone.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of participants undergoing lumbar spine surgery with complete follow-up52 weekNumber of participants undergoing lumbar spine surgery with complete follow-up

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
PROMIS Fatigueat 6 and 12 weeksMeasure of fatigue; Range 0 - 100; Population mean 50, standard deviation 10
PROMIS Anxietyat 6 and 12 weeksMeasure of anxiety; Range 0 - 100; Population mean 50, standard deviation 10
PROMIS Depressionat 6 and 12 weeksMeasure of depression; Range 0 - 100; Population mean 50, standard deviation 10
Patient controlled analgesia (PCA) pump useduring surgical hospitalization, up to 12 weeksTotal morphine equivalent of opioids administered by the PCA pump
Opioid medication useup to 90 daysHow many patients were prescribed and using opioid medication over the 90 days after hospital discharge?
PROMIS Physical Functionat 6 and 12 weeksMeasure of physical function; Range 0 - 100; Population mean 50, standard deviation 10
PROMIS Sleep Disturbanceat 6 and 12 weeksMeasure of sleep disturbance; Range 0 - 100; Population mean 50, standard deviation 10
PROMIS Satisfaction with Social Rolesat 6 and 12 weeksMeasure of satisfaction with social roles; Range 0 - 100; Population mean 50, standard deviation 10
Health status (Medical Outcome Study Short Form 12, version 2)at 6 and 12 weeksMeasure of physical and mental health; Range 0 - 100; Population mean 50, standard deviation 10
Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)at 6 and 12 weeksMeasure of pain-related disability; Range 0% - 100%; Scores greater than 30% indicative of moderate pain-related disability
Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Painat 6 and 12 weeksMeasure of pain intensity; Range 0 - 100; Population mean 50, standard deviation 10

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

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