Improving Pain Management and Long Term Outcomes Following High Energy Orthopedic Trauma (Pain Study)

Phase 3

Completed

• Conditions: Orthopaedic Fractures
• Interventions: Drug: placebo; Drug: Gabapentinoids; Drug: NSAID

• Registration Number: NCT01789216
• Lead Sponsor: Major Extremity Trauma Research Consortium

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to definitively resolve questions regarding the use of multimodal pharmacologic pain management for orthopedic trauma patients in the context of a multicenter, randomized clinical trial.

Also, as a significant proportion of this population develops chronic post traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA), a sub-objective of this study is to examine the etiology and incidence of chronic pain and PTOA in this population.

Detailed Description

In this study, will test whether adjunctive analgesic therapy during the pre and peri-operative period, in addition to standard of care pain management, can improve overall pain control and pain related outcomes without increasing analgesic related side effects.

Patients will be randomized into three treatment groups. The intervention will begin within 48 hours of admission and continue for up to the time of definitive fixation.

Group 1: standard pain management, plus intravenous and oral placebo for up to 48 hours following definitive fixation.

Group 2: standard pain management, plus intravenous NSAIDs (ketorolac) and oral placebo for up to 48 hours following definitive fixation.

Group 3: standard pain management, plus intravenous placebo and oral pregabalin for up to 48 hours following definitive fixation.

Specific Aim 1: Evaluate the effect of standard pain management (Group 1) vs. standard pain management plus peri-operative NSAIDs (Group 2 - meloxicam + ketorolac) in the treatment of severe limb fractures.

Hypothesis 1a: When compared to patients who received standard of care pain management, patients treated with NSAIDs will: (1) have reduced post operative opioid utilization; (2) report reduced levels of persistent pain; and (3) have noninferior rates of surgery for nonunion.

Hypothesis 1b: When compared to patients who received standard of care pain management, patients treated with NSAIDs will benefit from (1) improved post operative pain control; (2) improved pre operative pain control; (3) reduced lengths of stay; (4) reduced pain interference; (5) improved functional outcomes; (6) lower levels of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); (7) improved overall health status; and (8) have noninferior rates of analgesic treatment related side effects.

Specific Aim 2: Evaluate the effect of standard pain management (Group 1) vs. standard pain management plus pre and peri-operative pregabalin (Group 3) in the treatment of severe limb fractures.

Hypothesis2a : When compared to patients who received standard of care pain management, patients treated with pregabalin will: (1) have reduced post operative opioid utilization; (2) report reduced levels of persistent pain; and (3) have noninferior rates of surgery for nonunion.

Hypothesis 2b: When compared to patients who received standard of care pain management, patients treated with pregabalin will benefit from (1) improved post operative pain control; (2) improved pre operative pain control; (3) reduced lengths of stay; (4) reduced pain interference; (5) improved functional outcomes; (6) lower levels of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); (7) improved overall health status; and (8) have noninferior rates of analgesic treatment related side effects.

Specific Aim 3: Estimate the incremental cost effectiveness of each adjunctive analgesic therapy relative to standard of care analgesic therapy in the treatment of severe limb fractures. Costs will be estimated from both the health care provider perspective and the societal perspective. The time horizon for cost-effectiveness analysis will be based on the actual period of observation. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios will be calculated for: (a) study group 2 (NSAIDS - meloxicam + ketorolac) relative to standard of care; and (b) study group 3 (pregabalin) relative to standard of care. For purpose of cost-effectiveness analysis, the effect will be measured as unit change in specific outcome metrics at up to 15 months (or longer period as available) compared to baseline. The following cost-effectiveness metrics, all relative to standard of care, will be reported:

1. incremental cost per unit change in the Brief Pain Inventory

2. incremental cost per unit change in the Short Muscular Function Assessment (SFMA)

3. incremental cost per unit change in health state preference ("utility") as derived from the VR-12.

PTOA Pilot Study: Additional funding was received from NIH to conduct a pilot, observational study of post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA), leveraging current resources of the Pain study. PTOA is an important outcome in the population to be enrolled in the Pain study. The aims of the PTOA Study are to: (1) measure the incidence of PTOA and chronic pain for up to 24 months following fracture reduction surgery and (2) quantify the extent to which fracture severity and post-reduction contact stress are related to the development of PTOA. Accomplishment of these aims will require (1) for all patients with ankle fractures in the Pain study: complete a PTOA survey at 12 months and at any subsequent visits that are conducted as part of standard of care and provide access to all standard of care imaging studies completed during the study period and (2) for a subset of 60 pilon fracture patients enrolled in the Pain study for whom post-operative CT scans are not standard of care, obtain additional consent for completion of a study-funded post-operative CT scan and 24 month radiographic study

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2013-02-07
• Study First Submitted QC: 2013-02-11
• Study First Posted: 2013-02-12
• Study Start: 2013-07
• Primary Completion: 2018-12-31
• Study Completion: 2018-12-31
• Status Verified: 2021-02
• Last Update Submitted: 2021-02-01
• Last Update Posted: 2021-02-03

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 450

Inclusion Criteria

1. Patients with one of the following types of injuries:

   1. Unilateral, Grade I &II open or closed pilon (distal tibial plafond), calcaneus, talus fractures and Lisfranc dislocations requiring operative treatment with fixation; or
   2. Unilateral, open (type I, II, or IIIA) ankle fractures with associated dislocation on presentation (OTA 44B3 or 44C) requiring operative treatment with fixation; or
   3. Unilateral, open or closed distal and proximal humerus (OTA 11A-C and OTA 13 A-C); or
   4. Open femoral shaft fracture (OTA 32 A-C; Gustilo Type I-IIIC) or open or closed supracondylar femur fractures (OTA 33 A-C); or
   5. Open or closed tibial plateau or shaft fractures (OTA 42 A-C or 43 A-C)
   6. Any combination of the above injuries which are surgically treated as a whole

2. Patients who present to the admitting hospital acutely or clinic following an initial assessment in the Emergency Department, for care up to 10 days following initial injury.

3. Patients 18-80 years old inclusive.

4. Patients who are English or Spanish competent.

5. Treating physicians agree that none of the study drugs are indicated for standard of care treatment for this patient.

6. Patients able to be followed at the METRC facility for at least 12 months following injury.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Patients unable to provide informed consent.
2. Patients with chronic pain being presently treated with opioid or gabapentinoid prescription or any other alternative therapy.
3. Patients who are current IVDA
4. Patients with bilateral or ipsilateral injuries requiring surgery
5. Patients with other orthopedic or non-orthopedic injuries requiring operative intervention
6. Patients with severe osteopenia.
7. Patients who are skeletally immature (defined as less than 18 years of age or no radiographic evidence of epiphyseal closure).
8. Patients who are expected to have a post-surgical stay less than 24 hours.
9. Patients with a history of allergy to any drugs in the study.
10. Patients unable to swallow oral medications or without adequately functioning GI tract.
11. Patients with a history of gastrointestinal bleeds or gastric perforation.
12. Patients with a history of stroke or heart attack.
13. Patients currently receiving an aspirin or NSAID regimen (exception: low dose (81 mg) aspirin. See section 6.5) Patients with any bleeding disorders.
14. Patients with severe renal failure. Patients with moderate renal failure may participate in the study at a modified dose. See Section 9.6.
15. Patients undergoing daily treatment with systemic glucocorticoids before surgery.
16. Patients using angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, who may be at increased risk of developing angioedema with pregabalin.
17. Patients likely to have severe problems maintaining follow-up, including patients diagnosed with a severe psychiatric conditions, patients who live too far outside the hospital's catchment area, patients who are incarcerated and patients who have unstable housing situations.
18. Patients who experienced a loss of consciousness consistent with a clinical diagnosis of a closed head injury, or concern of a cerebrovascular bleed secondary to traumatic brain injury.
19. Patients with a GCS <15
20. Patient speaks neither English nor Spanish.
21. Patients who are pregnant or lactating at time of screening

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Placebo	placebo	Standard pain management + perioperative intravenous placebo \& oral placebo. Control group will receive an oral dose of placebo up to two hours prior to surgery and twice daily for up to 48 hours following any surgery, in addition to an intravenous dose of placebo up to two hours prior to surgery and every 6 hours for up to 48 hours following surgery. All study medications will be in addition to standard of care pain medication. \*Previous preoperative protocol was removed due to difficulty of medication adherence and limited importance of preoperative regimen to the intervention overall.
Gabapentinoid	Gabapentinoids	Standard pain management + perioperative intravenous placebo \& oral pregabalin. The Pregabalin group will receive an oral bolus dose of 300 mg of pregabalin up to two hours prior to the procedure and a 75 mg dose every 12 hours for up to 48 hours following the procedure. In addition, as part of the perioperative protocol, patients will receive an IV dose of placebo up to two hours prior to the procedure and every 6 hours for up to 48 hours following the procedure. \*Previous preoperative protocol was removed due to difficulty of medication adherence and limited importance of preoperative regimen to the intervention overall.
NSAID	NSAID	Standard pain management + perioperative intravenous ketorolac \& oral placebo. The NSAID group will receive 30 mg of intravenous (IV) ketorolac (Ketorolac 30 mg/ml dose vial, NDC 00409-3795-01; manufacturer: Hospira) administered up to two hours prior to the procedure and every 6 hours for up to 48 hours following the procedure. In addition, as part of the perioperative protocol, patients will receive an oral dose of placebo up to two hours prior to the procedure and every 12 hours for up to 48 hours following the procedure. \*Previous preoperative protocol was removed due to difficulty of medication adherence and limited importance of preoperative regimen to the intervention overall.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Opioid Utilization	1 year	Morphine equivalent opioid utilization during initial hospitalization through 48 hours following definitive fixation.
Persistent Pain	1 year	Patient reported persistent pain states at standard of care visits 3, 6 and 12 months following hospital discharge. Measured using the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) and an additional battery of questions to assess neuropathic pain (painDETECT).
Surgery for non-union	1 year	Defined as non-prophylactic surgery for nonunion performed between six months and a year following initial hospital discharge.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Length of Index Hospitalization	1 year	Defined as the hospitalization during which the definitive fixation occurs. Length of stay for all other study injury related hospitalizations will also be abstracted.
Post Surgical Pain Intensity	2 days	Pain intensity at 12-hour intervals during the 48 hours following definitive fixation surgery. Abstracted from medical record and supplemented by participant pain logs. At least one time point will be assessed using the Multidimensional Post Surgical Pain Scale in order to study multiple pain dimensions.
Pre Surgical Pain Intensity	2 days	Pain intensity at 12-hour intervals between study enrollment and definitive fixation surgery. Abstracted from medical record and supplemented by participant pain logs.
Adverse Effects and Complications	2-3 weeks	Will include nonunion, wound closure complications, bleeding complications (particularly perioperative bleeding due to loss of platelet function and gastrointestinal bleeding), as well as pain treatment related adverse effects. These include nausea, vomiting, constipation, sedation, pruritis, respiratory depression, somnolence, dizziness, headaches, coordination problems, peripheral edema, blurred vision, gastrointestinal symptoms and irritation, renal impairment, platelet inhibition, angioedema, and post operative delirium. Adverse effects and complications will be assessed by both patient report of symptoms during the period between enrollment and 48 hours post definitive fixation, and by clinical survey of symptoms during index hospitalization and at discharge from additional surgical admissions up to definitive fixation.
Medical Costs	1 year	Costs for the index hospitalization and subsequent hospitalizations (within one year) will be derived using hospital bills, outpatient bills and professional fees. Hospital costs will be calculated from charges at the revenue center/cost department line level using cost-to-charge ratios (CCRs) computed from the hospital-specific Medicare Cost Reports. Billing data will be supplemented or imputed by identifying medical resource utilization as documented in study case report forms, categorizing resources using standard medical billing codes, and assigning costs based on Medicare fee schedules. Of particular interest will be resource utilization and costs associated with the index hospital admission, surgical procedures for bone grafting and nonunion, subsequent admissions for complications, and post-operative follow-up care.
Functional Outcome	1 year	The SMFA (Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment) is a shorter version of the 101-item Musculoskeletal Function Assessment (MFA) questionnaire. The SMFA is a 46-item questionnaire consisting of the dysfunction index and the bother index. The dysfunction index has 34 items for assessment of patient function, while the bother index consists of 12 items designed to detect how much patients are bothered by functional items. The SMFA has been evaluated for reliability, validity and responsiveness in trauma populations. To be assessed at 6 and 12 months.
Generic Health Status	1 year	The generic health status will be measured by the VR-12 instrument from which a VR-6D can be computed for the purpose of a cost-utility analysis. The VR-12 is a multipurpose self-administered generic measure of health status. It was developed to measure health-related quality of life, estimate disease burden and compare disease-specific benchmarks across populations. The VR-12 items measure eight health domains: general health perceptions; physical functioning; role limitations due to physical and emotional problems; bodily pain; energy-fatigue, social functioning and mental health. The instrument produces a physical health and mental health summary measure. To be assessed at 6 and 12 months.
Post Traumatic Stress (PTSD)	1 year	PTSD will be measured using the standard PTSD Checklist (PCL), a 17-item measure that elicits responses for each of the DSM-IV disorders that comprise the diagnostic criteria for PTSD (intrusive, avoidant, and arousal symptoms). The psychometric properties of the PCL have been well established and it is the most widely used measure of PTSD. Both civilian and military versions are available. The military version will be used for all those patients on active duty at the time of their injury. To be assessed at 12 months.
Depressive Symptoms	1 year	The presence of depressive symptoms will be measured using the nine item depression scale of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). The PHQ-9 is a well validated tool for assisting clinicians in diagnosing depression. There are two components of the PHQ-9: (1) assessing symptoms and functional impairment to make a tentative depression diagnosis, and (2) deriving a severity score. The PHQ-9 is based directly on the diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Fourth Edition (DSM-IV). To be assessed at 12 months.
Fracture Classification	1-2 years	Fracture classification will be obtained using radiographs of the patient's injured ankle at presentation and after each surgical intervention according to standard of care practice. These radiographs will be used for clinical care, to classify the fractures, and at follow-up to assess outcome. Radiographs will be obtained at the time of initial hospital evaluation, immediately following treatment and at follow up clinic visits according to standard of care. Final clinical assessments and radiographs will be obtained as close to 12 months as routine practice allows. At practices where patients are routinely followed for more than 12 months and 24 month clinical assessments and radiographs will be conducted, at which point all study-related activities will be completed. A subset of 60 patients, identified prospectively, will provide an additional CT 3 months following definitive fixation, and will provide a final set of radiographs 24 months following definitive fixation.
Fracture Severity	1-2 years	Fracture severity will be measured using standard of care CT scans. In severe fractures, this image will be obtained after application of a temporary joint spanning external fixator. Thus, the fracture severity analysis will be based on fractured distal tibias with limb alignment provisionally controlled. After definitive fracture reconstruction, a second CT scan will be obtained at the 3 month follow up time point, for assessment of chronic contact stress challenge. The second CT scan will be obtained for all patients for whom it is standard of care.

Trial Locations

Locations (17)

University of Maryland, R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center; 🇺🇸 Baltimore, Maryland, United States

University of Pittsburgh; 🇺🇸 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Carolinas Medical Center; 🇺🇸 Charlotte, North Carolina, United States

St. Mary's Medical Center; 🇺🇸 West Palm Beach, Florida, United States

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; 🇺🇸 Dallas, Texas, United States

Penn State University M.S. Hershey Medical Center; 🇺🇸 Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States

MetroHealth Medical Center; 🇺🇸 Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Eskenazi Health; 🇺🇸 Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

Boston Medical Center; 🇺🇸 Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Hennepin County Medical Center; 🇺🇸 Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

UT Health: The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Medical School; 🇺🇸 Houston, Texas, United States

University of Miami Ryder Trauma Center; 🇺🇸 Miami, Florida, United States

Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center; 🇺🇸 Shreveport, Louisiana, United States

Johns Hopkins University; 🇺🇸 Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Naval Medical Center Portsmouth; 🇺🇸 Portsmouth, Virginia, United States

Vanderbilt University Medical Center; 🇺🇸 Nashville, Tennessee, United States

University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics; 🇺🇸 Iowa City, Iowa, United States