IV Methadone vs EXPAREL Erector Spinae Plane Blockade in Pediatric Subjects Undergoing Idiopathic Scoliosis Correction

Study Purpose

The goal of this pilot study is to assess the feasibility of conducting a randomized controlled trial at a single institution comparing erector spinae plane blockade (ESPB) with liposomal bupivacaine (LB, Exparel) to intravenous (IV) methadone for managing pain in pediatric subjects undergoing adolescent and juvenile idiopathic scoliosis correction. Specifically, the goal is to enroll 15 subjects in each group and to complete data collection for all subjects. If this pilot study is successful, we plan to then design a larger scale study powered to compare specific outcomes between the two groups.

Recruitment Criteria

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Healthy volunteers are participants who do not have a disease or condition, or related conditions or symptoms

No
Study Type

An interventional clinical study is where participants are assigned to receive one or more interventions (or no intervention) so that researchers can evaluate the effects of the interventions on biomedical or health-related outcomes.


An observational clinical study is where participants identified as belonging to study groups are assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.


Searching Both is inclusive of interventional and observational studies.

Interventional
Eligible Ages 11 Years - 17 Years
Gender All
More Inclusion & Exclusion Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • - Subjects whose parent(s) or guardian(s) has/have signed and dated the informed consent form (ICF) for the subject to participate in the study.
  • - Patients with a diagnosis of juvenile idiopathic scoliosis (JIS) or adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) who will have posterior spinal fusion surgery.
  • - Male or female patients 11 to less than 18 years of age on the day of surgery.
  • - American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Class 1-2.
  • - Able to adhere to the study visit schedule and complete all study assessments.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • - Body mass index ≥35 at the time of screening.
  • - Contraindication to regional anesthesia (e.g., abnormal coagulation, infection at site) - Current opioid use at the time of screening.
  • - Current diagnosis of chronic pain.
  • - Allergy, hypersensitivity, intolerance, or contraindication to any of the study medications.
  • - Administration of liposomal bupivacaine (LB, Exparel) - Subject/parent/guardian primary language other than English or Spanish.
  • - Inability of patient to verbally express symptoms such as pain and side effects (as in moderate to severe developmental delay) - A prolonged QTc on preoperative EKG (QTc longer than 450 milliseconds) - History of Torsades de Pointes.
  • - Renal or hepatic impairment.
  • - Diagnosed active seizure disorder.
  • - Any other condition that causes patient to be ineligible for surgery, i.e. pregnancy.

Trial Details

Trial ID:

This trial id was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, providing information on publicly and privately supported clinical studies of human participants with locations in all 50 States and in 196 countries.

NCT05730920
Phase

Phase 1: Studies that emphasize safety and how the drug is metabolized and excreted in humans.

Phase 2: Studies that gather preliminary data on effectiveness (whether the drug works in people who have a certain disease or condition) and additional safety data.

Phase 3: Studies that gather more information about safety and effectiveness by studying different populations and different dosages and by using the drug in combination with other drugs.

Phase 4: Studies occurring after FDA has approved a drug for marketing, efficacy, or optimal use.

Phase 4
Lead Sponsor

The sponsor is the organization or person who oversees the clinical study and is responsible for analyzing the study data.

Dr. Casey Stondell, MD
Principal Investigator

The person who is responsible for the scientific and technical direction of the entire clinical study.

Casey Stondell, MD
Principal Investigator Affiliation Shriners Children's
Agency Class

Category of organization(s) involved as sponsor (and collaborator) supporting the trial.

Other, Industry
Overall Status Recruiting
Countries United States
Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied.

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis, Juvenile Idiopathic Scoliosis
Additional Details

Enrolled subjects will be randomized to one of two groups: one group will receive intra-operative IV methadone as the primary means of controlling post-operative pain while the other group will instead receive intra-operative erector spinae plane blocks (ESPB) with liposomal bupivacaine (LB, Exparel) and bupivacaine hydrochloride as the primary means of controlling postoperative pain. All other aspects of peri-operative management will be standardized. Subjects and the post-operative care team will be blinded to which intervention was performed in order to reduce bias. Upon discharge, subjects will receive a wearable activity monitor and a daily journal in order to record post-discharge data. Subjects will receive weekly phone calls for data collection and then will have a final in-person clinic visit, at which point participation in the study will conclude.

Arms & Interventions

Arms

Active Comparator: Intravenous (IV) Methadone

Subjects will receive IV methadone 0.2 mg/kg (maximum dose 20mg) via an infusion pump over 15 minutes while undergoing continuous monitoring. Additional IV methadone may be given during the case per the anesthesiologist's discretion, but the total dose may not exceed 20mg.

Experimental: Liposomal Bupivacaine (LB, Exparel)

Subjects will receive four-point ESPB with an admixture of LB and 0.25% bupivacaine hydrochloride. The total LB dose will be 4mg/kg, max dose of 266mg, while the total dose of bupivacaine hydrochloride will be 2mg/kg.

Interventions

Drug: - Methadone

IV Methadone

Drug: - Liposomal bupivacaine (LB, Exparel)

LB and bupivacaine hydrochloride via erector spinae plane blocks

Contact a Trial Team

If you are interested in learning more about this trial, find the trial site nearest to your location and contact the site coordinator via email or phone. We also strongly recommend that you consult with your healthcare provider about the trials that may interest you and refer to our terms of service below.

Shriners Hospitals for Children, Sacramento, California

Status

Recruiting

Address

Shriners Hospitals for Children

Sacramento, California, 95817

Site Contact

Kory Bettencort

[email protected]

916-453-2136