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Impact of Opioid Avoidance Protocol for ACL Reconstruction

Impact of Opioid Avoidance Protocol for ACL Reconstruction Surgery

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06340932
Enrollment
32
Registered
2024-04-02
Start date
2024-04-27
Completion date
2025-02-01
Last updated
2025-03-07

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

Conditions

ACL Tear, Post Operative Pain

Keywords

Iovera, Cryoneurolysis, Multi-modal analgesics

Brief summary

This is a prospective, quasi-experimental, cohort study comparing patients treated with one of two postoperative pain management protocols. The two protocols assessed will be the current standard of care protocol for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (ACLR) postoperative pain control utilized by Dr. Matthew Varacallo and then an opioid avoidance protocol that is planned to be implemented on the Spring of 2024. The study is voluntary, however all patients will be treated with either of the two protocols depending on their date of surgery. This study will include patients aged 15 years and older who consent to the participation in the study. Patients will be identified utilizing the operative surgeon's appointment calendar and will be screened and offered inclusion in the study if applicable at their pre-operative visit. Data will be collected via patient medication and pain diary, phone call, and clinician administration of standardized outcome questionnaires. Patients will be included in the standard of care group if ACLR is performed prior to the change in protocol in the Spring of 2024 or the opioid avoidance group if performed after the protocol change. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of the opioid avoidance protocol on opioid use in milligrams of morphine equivalent (MME) from postoperative day (POD) 0 to 7 after ACLR compared to the current standard of care pain management protocol. Secondary objectives are to: * evaluate the effects of an opioid avoidance protocol on the daily average numeric rating scale (NRS) pain scores from POD0-7 * evaluate the effects of an opioid avoidance protocol on the daily worst NRS pain score from POD0-7 * evaluate the ability to recover opioid free through 7, 30, and 60 days * evaluate the quality of recovery 15 (QoR-15) scores on POD2 * assess the number of opioid prescriptions required by patients in the 60 day recover period * assess Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) pain and symptom scales at 8 weeks post-operatively between groups.

Interventions

DEVICEIovera

Cryoneurolysis of 5 sensory nerves (Intermediate branch of the AFCN, Medial Femoral Cutaneous Nerve, Suprapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve, 2 branches of the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve) causing Wallerian degeneration

DRUGCelecoxib

200mg BID

DRUGAcetaminophen

1000mg q8h

DRUGOxycodone

As needed

DRUGTramadol

As needed

DRUGBupivacaine Hydrochloride

20mL of 0.25% bupivacaine HCl adductor canal block and 15mL of 0.25% bupivacaine HCl (+/- 5mL of normal saline) iPACK

500mg q6h prn

Sponsors

Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
Matthew Varacallo
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* Patients aged 15 years or older at screening. * Primary diagnosis of ACL injury as evidenced by MRI or similar imaging study and are scheduled to undergo ACLR with or without meniscal repair/meniscectomy * Non-pregnant patients with verbal confirmation that they are not planning to become pregnant during the study period. i. Female subjects must have a confirmatory negative pregnancy test as part of the routine pre-operative laboratory testing ii. Subjects must endorse a plan to utilize contraceptives (condoms, hormonal birth control, IUD, etc.) for any sexual activity during the study period. * English speaking patients * Provision of informed consent with ability to adhere to the study visit schedule and complete all study assessments.

Exclusion criteria

* Allergy, hypersensitivity, intolerance, or contraindication to any of the study medications * History of contralateral ACL repair within 1 year of screening * Multi-ligament injury requiring reconstruction * Inability to return to the study doctor's clinic for postoperative visits * Pregnant or trying to become pregnant * Breastfeeding * Have a severe chronic pain condition that in the opinion of the study doctor may impact post-surgical outcomes of analgesic and opioid usage (i.e., fibromyalgia, cancer, sickle cell disease) * Have a known contraindication to the iovera° device, including any of the following: i. Cryoglobulinemia (presence of abnormal proteins in the blood that thicken in cold temperatures) ii. Paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria (an autoimmune disorder where cold-reacting antibodies that attack and destroy red blood cells) iii. Cold urticaria (temporary itchy welts \[hives\] on skin exposed to cold temperatures) iv. Raynaud's disease (which causes some areas of the body, such as fingers and toes, to feel numb and cold in response to cold temperatures) v. Open and/or infected wounds at or near the study treatment site vi. Coagulopathy (problems with blood clotting) * Have poorly controlled mental illness that in the opinion of the study doctor may meaningfully impact study treatment outcomes, including any of the following: i. Mood disorder (for example, major depression, bipolar) ii. Psychotic disorder (for example, schizophrenia) * Have a history, suspicion, or clinical manifestation of: i. Alcohol abuse or dependence ii. Illicit drug use iii. Opioid abuse or dependence (greater than or equal to 40 mg morphine equivalent dose by mouth per day in the past 30 days) * Pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the study period

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Opioid consumption from post-operative day 0 to 77 daysTotal use of opioids in milligrams of morphine equivalent from day 0 through day 7

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Average daily worst pain score via NRS7 daysAverage of highest pain scores daily
Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) Pain Subscale ScoreWeek 8Pain subscale of the KOOS questionnaire
Quality of Recovery-15Day 2QoR15 score on POD2
Average daily pain score via numeric rating scale (NRS)7 DaysAverage daily pain each day from POD0-7
KOOS symptom subscale scoreWeek 8Symptom subscale of the KOOS questionnaire
Quantity of opioid prescriptions utilized at day 30 and 60Day 30 and Day 60Number of opioid prescriptions filled by patient at day 30 and 60
Opioid-free at day 7, day 30, and day 60Days 7, 30, and 60Percentage of patients who did not utilize opioid prescriptions at 3 time points
Pittsburgh Rehabilitation Participation Scale Score8 weeksAbility to participate in physical therapy weekly

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

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