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Exparel for Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

Randomized Clinical Trial of Exparel vs Pain Pump for Post-operative Pain Control After Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04364867
Enrollment
102
Registered
2020-04-28
Start date
2020-08-12
Completion date
2021-02-17
Last updated
2024-11-26

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

Conditions

Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

Keywords

Total Shoulder Arthroplasty, Post-operative Pain, Pain pump, Liposomal Bupivacaine

Brief summary

The primary objective of this study is to determine if Exparel leads to better pain scores at 24, 48 and 72 hours after Total Shoulder Arthroplasty (TSA) compared to a pain pump. Secondary objectives are (1) to determine if patients on Exparel use less narcotics and (2) have earlier return of functional use of the involved arm after surgery compared to the pain pump and (3) if use of Exparel leads to cost savings METHODS Sample size: Based on prior studies on anesthetics for TSA, the mean worst pain score in the 24 hours after surgery was 5.4, based on a 0 to 10 scale. To detect a change of 2 points, alpha of 0.05, beta of 0.80, a sample size of 51 subjects in each group will be required. To account for drop-outs, a total of 60 subjects in each arm will be enrolled. Inclusion criteria Patients undergoing unilateral primary TSA or reverse TSA Indication for surgery is osteoarthritis, rotator cuff arthropathy or massive irreparable rotator cuff tears Surgery performed by the Principal Investigator Anesthesia administered by Co-Principal Investigator Willing and able to sign an Informed Consent Exclusion criteria Indication for surgery is fracture Comorbid psychiatric diagnosis requiring therapy and/or medication except anxiety or depression Comorbid chronic pain syndrome (reflex sympathetic dystrophy, fibromyalgia) Has hepatic disease On workers compensation/disability/litigation Known adverse reaction to medications to be administered On long-acting narcotic pain medication (including extended release narcotic pain medications and methadone) Home Oxygen requirement whether as needed or scheduled. Contralateral Phrenic Nerve paralysis / incompetence. Body Mass Index ≥ 50 Randomization will be a varied blocked randomization with blocks of 12, 15 and 18 using sealed envelopes Treatment arms: Control: Pain catheter based pain control. Subject will receive an interscalene block with Ropivicaine 0.5% (20cc), and then a pain pump attached in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit infusing at 4cc/hr. The patient will go home with that device until it runs out. Interventional: Single shot Exparel 10cc (133mg) mixed with 10cc of 0.5% Bupivicaine Both arms will receive the same multimodal analgesia medications preoperatively. Celebrex 400mg PO, Gabapentin 600mg PO, Tylenol 1 gram PO, unless contraindicated.

Detailed description

The primary objective of this study is to determine if Exparel leads to better pain scores at 24, 48 and 73 hours after TSA compared to a pain pump. Secondary objectives are (1) to determine if patients on Exparel use less narcotics and (2) have earlier return of functional use of the involved arm after surgery compared to the pain pump and (3) if use of Exparel leads to cost savings METHODS Sample size: Based on prior studies on anesthetics for TSA, the mean worst pain score in the 24 hours after surgery was 5.4, based on a 0 to 10 scale. To detect a change of 2 points, alpha of 0.05, beta of 0.80, a sample size of 51 subjects in each group will be required. To account for drop-outs, a total of 60 subjects in each arm will be enrolled. Inclusion criteria Patients undergoing unilateral primary TSA or reverse TSA Indication for surgery is osteoarthritis, rotator cuff arthropathy or massive irreparable rotator cuff tears Surgery performed by the Principal Investigator Anesthesia administered by Co-Principal Investigator Willing and able to sign an Informed Consent Exclusion criteria Indication for surgery is fracture Comorbid psychiatric diagnosis requiring therapy and/or medication except anxiety or depression Comorbid chronic pain syndrome (reflex sympathetic dystrophy, fibromyalgia) Has hepatic disease On workers compensation/disability/litigation Known adverse reaction to medications to be administered On long-acting narcotic pain medication (including extended release narcotic pain medications and methadone) Home Oxygen requirement whether as needed or scheduled. Contralateral Phrenic Nerve paralysis / incompetence. Body Mass Index ≥ 50 Randomization will be a varied blocked randomization with blocks of 12, 15 and 18 using sealed envelopes Treatment arms: Control: Pain catheter based pain control. Subject will receive an interscalene block with Ropivicaine 0.5% (20cc), and then a pain pump attached in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit infusing at 4cc/hr. The patient will go home with that device until it runs out. Interventional: Single shot Exparel 10cc (133mg) mixed with 10cc of 0.5% Bupivicaine Both arms will receive the same multimodal analgesia medications preoperatively. Celebrex 400mg PO, Gabapentin 600mg PO, Tylenol 1 gram PO, unless contraindicated.

Interventions

DRUGExparel

Single shot Exparel 10cc (133mg) mixed with 10cc of 0.5% Bupivicaine

Subject will receive an interscalene block with Ropivicaine 0.5% (20cc), and then a pain pump attached in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit infusing at 4cc/hr. The patient will go home with that device until it runs out.

Sponsors

Norton Healthcare
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 70 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Patients undergoing unilateral primary TSA or reverse TSA * Indication for surgery is osteoarthritis, rotator cuff arthropathy or massive irreparable rotator cuff tears * Surgery performed by the Principal Investigator * Anesthesia administered by Co-Principal Investigator * Willing and able to sign an Informed Consent

Exclusion criteria

* Indication for surgery is fracture * Comorbid psychiatric diagnosis requiring therapy and/or medication except anxiety or depression * Comorbid chronic pain syndrome (reflex sympathetic dystrophy, fibromyalgia) * Has hepatic disease * On workers compensation/disability/litigation * Known adverse reaction to medications to be administered * On long-acting narcotic pain medication (including extended release narcotic pain medications and methadone) * Home Oxygen requirement whether as needed or scheduled. * Contralateral Phrenic Nerve paralysis / incompetence. * Body Mass Index ≥ 50

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Pain Score in the 24 Hours After Surgery24 hours after surgeryWorst pain score (0 \[none\] to 10 \[worst possible\]) in the 24 hours after surgery

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Pain Score in the 48 Hours After Surgery48 hoursWorst pain score (0 \[none\] to 10 \[worst possible\]) in the 48 hours after surgery
Cumulative Morphine Milligram Equivalents at 24 Hours24 hoursCumulative Morphine Milligram Equivalents consumed at 24 hours
Cumulative Morphine Milligram Equivalents at 48 Hours48 hoursCumulative Morphine Milligram Equivalents consumed at 48 hours
Cumulative Morphine Milligram Equivalents at 72 Hours72hoursCumulative Morphine Milligram Equivalents consumed at 72 hours
Pain Score in the 72 Hours After Surgery72 hoursWorst pain score (0 \[none\] to 10 \[worst possible\]) in the 72 hours after surgery

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Exparel
Single shot Exparel 10cc (133mg) mixed with 10cc of 0.5% Bupivicaine Exparel: Single shot Exparel 10cc (133mg) mixed with 10cc of 0.5% Bupivicaine
19
Pain Pump
Subject will receive an interscalene block with Ropivicaine 0.5% (20cc), and then a pain pump attached in the PACU infusing at 4cc/hr. The patient will go home with that device until it runs out. Pain Pump: Subject will receive an interscalene block with Ropivicaine 0.5% (20cc), and then a pain pump attached in the PACU infusing at 4cc/hr. The patient will go home with that device until it runs out.
35
Total54

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicExparelPain PumpTotal
Age, Continuous66.5 Years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.96
67.15 Years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.17
66.68 Years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.96
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race
African American
1 Participants2 Participants3 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race
Caucasian
18 Participants33 Participants51 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
19 participants35 participants54 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
6 Participants19 Participants25 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
13 Participants16 Participants29 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 190 / 35
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 190 / 35
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 192 / 35

Outcome results

Primary

Pain Score in the 24 Hours After Surgery

Worst pain score (0 \[none\] to 10 \[worst possible\]) in the 24 hours after surgery

Time frame: 24 hours after surgery

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
ExparelPain Score in the 24 Hours After Surgery0.76 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 0.97
Pain PumpPain Score in the 24 Hours After Surgery3.37 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 2.86
Secondary

Cumulative Morphine Milligram Equivalents at 24 Hours

Cumulative Morphine Milligram Equivalents consumed at 24 hours

Time frame: 24 hours

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
ExparelCumulative Morphine Milligram Equivalents at 24 Hours4.58 Morphine Milligram Equivalents (MME)Standard Deviation 6.53
Pain PumpCumulative Morphine Milligram Equivalents at 24 Hours3.57 Morphine Milligram Equivalents (MME)Standard Deviation 3.84
Secondary

Cumulative Morphine Milligram Equivalents at 48 Hours

Cumulative Morphine Milligram Equivalents consumed at 48 hours

Time frame: 48 hours

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
ExparelCumulative Morphine Milligram Equivalents at 48 Hours4.58 Morphine Milligram Equivalents (MME)Standard Deviation 0.88
Pain PumpCumulative Morphine Milligram Equivalents at 48 Hours4.19 Morphine Milligram Equivalents (MME)Standard Deviation 0.72
Secondary

Cumulative Morphine Milligram Equivalents at 72 Hours

Cumulative Morphine Milligram Equivalents consumed at 72 hours

Time frame: 72hours

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
ExparelCumulative Morphine Milligram Equivalents at 72 Hours4.58 Morphine Milligram Equivalents (MME)Standard Deviation 0.88
Pain PumpCumulative Morphine Milligram Equivalents at 72 Hours4.31 Morphine Milligram Equivalents (MME)Standard Deviation 0.65
Secondary

Pain Score in the 48 Hours After Surgery

Worst pain score (0 \[none\] to 10 \[worst possible\]) in the 48 hours after surgery

Time frame: 48 hours

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
ExparelPain Score in the 48 Hours After Surgery2.53 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 1.42
Pain PumpPain Score in the 48 Hours After Surgery4.70 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 3.23
Secondary

Pain Score in the 72 Hours After Surgery

Worst pain score (0 \[none\] to 10 \[worst possible\]) in the 72 hours after surgery

Time frame: 72 hours

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
ExparelPain Score in the 72 Hours After Surgery2.94 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 2.73
Pain PumpPain Score in the 72 Hours After Surgery3.69 score on a scaleStandard Deviation 2.93

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