Addictive full-agonist opioids, like oxycodone and hydrocodone, are often used to treat pain after surgery. However, these full-agonist opioids can be very addictive. After ankle fracture surgery, about 1 in 5 patients that did not take opioids before surgery become addicted to opioids after surgery. Buprenorphine is an opioid with unique properties that may offer a way to reduce the number of patients that become addicted to opioids after surgery. Buprenorphine has good analgesic (painkilling) effects. It is also thought to be less addictive and cause less of a high than full-agonist opioids, like oxycodone and hydrocodone. This project's goal is to determine if transdermal buprenorphine can safely and effectively control pain after ankle fracture surgery. This study will be a pilot study, which sets the stage for future studies that investigate whether buprenorphine can reduce the rate that patients become addicted to opioids after surgery. This study's multidisciplinary team will divide patients into two groups. Participants in one group will be treated with a 7-day transdermal buprenorphine patch (where the buprenorphine is slowly absorbed through the skin over 7 days). Participants in the other group will be treated with a placebo patch. A placebo has no drug in it, it just looks like the buprenorphine patch. Aside from the buprenorphine patch or placebo patch, both groups' pain management plans will be the same as if they were not in the study. Over the first week after surgery, the investigators will measure the amount of full-agonist opioids (for example, oxycodone or hydrocodone) that participants consume, participants' pain scores, the frequency of side effects related to opioids, and the number of calls and patient portal messages to the clinic for uncontrolled pain. The investigators will also assess whether participants are continuing to use opioids 3 months after surgery for pain related to their ankle fracture.
Patient is 18 years of age or older
Patient is undergoing single stage ORIF of an ankle fracture
Patient is English-speaking
Patient is under 18 years of age
Patient's ankle fracture is treated with external fixation
Patient has a concomitant osseous or visceral injury
Patient has a history of opioid use disorder or a current diagnosis of opioid use disorder
Parallel
Buprenorphine Transdermal System
DrugThe buprenorphine transdermal system is unique from other interventions in the study, as it is the experimental drug in the study. The buprenorphine transdermal system will be applied in the pre-operative holding area. Aside from the buprenorphine transdermal system, participants assigned to this intervention will otherwise receive the standard of care in their post-operative pain management following ankle fracture surgery.
Placebo Patch
DrugThe placebo patch is unique from other interventions in the study, as it is the placebo drug in the study. The placebo patch will be applied in the pre-operative holding area. Aside from the placebo patch, participants assigned to this intervention will otherwise receive the standard of care in their post-operative pain management following ankle fracture surgery.
Morphine Milligram Equivalents of Full-agonist Opioid Consumed
After surgery, patients will record the total amount of opioid medication they consumed during the first post-operative week in their pain diary. In admitted patients, the electronic medical record will be reviewed to determine the morphine milligram equivalents of opioid consumed while admitted. Patients will also bring all their bottles and opioid prescriptions to their first post-operative clinic visit, at which point their total opioid consumption between surgery and their first post-operative clinic visit will be recorded by the researchers.
Visual Analog Pain Scores
After surgery, visual analog pain scores with movement and at rest will be reported by the patient in a pain diary. In admitted patients, visual analog pain scores will be recorded by the bedside nurse. Visual analog pain scores are rated from 0-10. A score of 0 represents that the patient has no pain. A score of 10 represents excruciating pain.
Morphine Milligram Equivalents of Full-Agonist Opioids Administered in Perioperative Setting
Review of the medication administration record will be performed to calculate the morphine milligram equivalents of opioid medication administered during ankle fracture surgery and in the post-operative recovery unit.
Adverse Effects Related to Opioid Medication
After surgery, patients will record whether they have symptoms of constipation, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, or anything other symptoms potentially related to their opioid medication. The frequency and types of adverse effects will be recorded by the study researchers.
Hospital Readmissions due to Uncontrolled Post-operative Pain
The investigators will track the number of hospital readmissions due to uncontrolled post-operative pain.
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Jenna-Leigh Wilson
Lead sponsor
Washington University School of Medicine
Sponsor institution
The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Collaborator
Washington University Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences
Collaborator
