Liposomal Bupivacaine in Simultaneous Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty

Phase 4

Completed

• Conditions: Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; Pain
• Interventions: Drug: Liposomal bupivacaine

• Registration Number: NCT02349542
• Lead Sponsor: OrthoCarolina Research Institute, Inc.

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the serum levels (pharmacokinetics) of bupivacaine in a series of patients undergoing simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty with the use of a standardized periarticular injection containing free bupivacaine and liposomal bupivacaine.

Detailed Description

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a commonly performed and successful surgical procedure that has been shown to dramatically decrease pain and improve patient's function and quality of life. Certain patients may present with significant pain and limitations due to pain in both knees and based on age, health and degree of deformity may be candidates for bilateral simultaneous total knee arthroplasty. The safety and efficacy of simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty has been well documented in the literature.

Inadequate postoperative pain control following TKA has been one of the greatest sources of patient dissatisfaction following total knee arthroplasty. Traditionally, it has been managed with parenteral and oral narcotics. Recently, a number of studies have demonstrated the efficacy of multimodal analgesia following a variety of surgical procedures. These multimodal regimens vary and consist of any number of medications including non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, anti-epileptics, and peripheral nerve blocks among others. These multimodal regimens have been associated with a reduction in the use of opioid analgesics, leading to fewer opioid-associated adverse events.

One of the newest modalities introduced on the market is liposomal bupivacaine (Exparel). Liposomal bupivacaine is a lipid encapsulated bupivacaine that allows for depo administration of the medication into the soft tissue during a surgical procedure. The lipids are engineered to slowly release over an approximately 72 hour time period, resulting in the slow release of free bupivacaine in to the soft tissue of the surgical site. This has the proposed advantage of a longer duration of analgesia compared to standard bupivacaine injections.

Liposomal bupivacaine is applied in a periarticular injection at the conclusion of TKAs to aid in post-operative pain control. Due to the lipid encapsulation of the bupivacaine, only 3% free bupivacaine is released into the tissue at initial infiltration, with the remainder released slowly over approximately a 72 hour time frame. To cover, this gap period, the liposomal bupivacaine is mixed with standard bupivacaine to allow for an immediate analgesic effect.

A potential risk, although low, is the concern for bupivacaine toxicity. Toxicity from bupivacaine is associated with central nervous system issues (seizures) and cardiac toxicity. Toxicity is dose dependent and recommended levels should not exceed 400mg/24 hr period. With the use of bupivacaine into each surgical site, there is a theoretical risk, if administered intra-vascularly, of bupivacaine toxicity. To date, no study has evaluated the safety of liposomal bupivacaine when used in simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty. The use of liposomal bupivacaine is FDA approved for infiltration of one vial into one surgical site. Other specialties have evaluated the use of one vial of liposomal bupivacaine into two surgical sites (breast augmentation) at one surgery without any adverse events.

To date, approximately 8-10 patients at the investigator's institution have undergone simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty with the use of liposomal bupivacaine without a known adverse event. A recent study published by Bramlett (2012) used 2 vials (532mg) in one knee to evaluate efficacy. There were no changes in patient's vitals signs or cardiac events in those patients receiving liposomal bupivacaine at the highest dose. In addition, a study by Bergese looked at doses of up to 600mg of liposomal bupivacaine in a Phase 2 safety study and found no adverse cardiac events. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the serum levels (pharmacokinetics) of bupivacaine in a series of patients undergoing simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty with the use of a standardize periarticular injection containing free bupivacaine and liposomal bupivacaine.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2015-01
• Study First Submitted: 2015-01-16
• Study First Submitted QC: 2015-01-23
• Study First Posted: 2015-01-29
• Primary Completion: 2016-11-01
• Study Completion: 2016-11-21
• Results First Submitted: 2017-07-07
• Results First Submitted QC: 2017-07-07
• Status Verified: 2017-08
• Last Update Submitted: 2017-08-01
• Results First Posted: 2017-08-02
• Last Update Posted: 2017-08-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 20

Inclusion Criteria

• Patients deemed appropriate candidates for simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty.
• Patients receiving general anesthesia
• Understands the local language and is willing and able to follow the requirements of the protocol
• Understands the informed consent and signs the institutional review board/ independent ethics committee (IRB/IEC) approved informed consent form

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Exclusion Criteria

• Patients less than 18 years of age
• Allergy to bupivacaine
• Allergy to epinephrine
• Patients who are not medically cleared to undergo bilateral total knee replacement surgery, or
• Patient-reported liver impairment (per investigator discretion)
• Patient-reported renal impairment (per investigator discretion)
• Patients receiving spinal anesthesia
• Females who are pregnant or lactating

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Liposomal bupivacaine	Liposomal bupivacaine	Patients will receive liposomal bupivacaine following simultaneous bilateral total knee arthroplasty.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Adverse Events	Up to 72 hours following injection	Number of Participants with Adverse Events

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Plasma Bupivacaine Levels	Up to 72 hours following injection	Blood samples will be drawn and analyzed to establish levels of bupivacaine detectable in the blood. Blood samples will be drawn at baseline (prior to injection), upon injection, at 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours post-injection and analyzed to determine levels of bupivacaine present.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

OrthoCarolina, PA; 🇺🇸 Charlotte, North Carolina, United States