After determining the patient qualifies for the study, the patient would then be taken through the informed consent process by one of the co-investigators in the orthopedics group at West Virginia University. The co-investigator would then use a block randomization table to assign the patient to standard (control) treatment versus IV buprenorphine plus IV sufentanil treatment group. The appropriate order set would then be selected in EPIC by the anesthesia department depending on the results of the randomization. Induction of anesthesia, anxiolysis and hypnosis would be at the discretion of the assigned anesthesiologist. Ketamine would be excluded as an option for maintenance of general anesthesia due to its profound analgesic properties. The control group would receive fentanyl 0.5mcg/kg q10 minute PRN, ketorolac 0.5mg/kg up to 30mg max IV, and acetaminophen 1000mg IV for pain control intraoperatively. The patient would then be treated with hydromorphone 0.005mg/kg q10 minutes (max single dose 1mg) in the post-anesthesia recovery unit (PACU) until their pain was described as manageable or the patient reported they were comfortable. The patient would then receive hydromorphone 0.005 mg/kg (max single dose 1mg) q1hr PRN, 1 gram acetaminophen IV scheduled q6hr, and methocarbamol 750mg QID following discharge from the PACU and transfer to the hospital floor. The patient would then be converted to oxymorphone 10mg (Roxicodone) q4hr PRN and 975 mg PO APAP scheduled for pain control on hospital day number 2. The patients would receive their home dose of suboxone on hospital day number 2. On hospital day number 3, patients would be transitioned to an increased dose of their Suboxone for pain control in preparation for discharge. At any time during admission the patient feels as if their pain is uncontrolled and comfort could not be achieved, the anesthesia pain service would evaluate the patient and order sufentanil PCA while discontinuing other opioid therapy. This treatment would be considered a rescue therapy and the patient would be removed from the study arm. The buprenorphine-sufentanil group would receive sufentanil 0.01 mcg/kg q10 min PRN, IV ketorolac 0.5mg/kg up to 30mg max and IV acetaminophen 15mg/kg up to 1000mg for pain control intraoperatively. In the PACU, IV buprenorphine 0.3mg IV q30 minutes would be given as the first line choice for pain control for 3 doses. IV PCA sufentanil would be used as a second line therapy if patient comfort is not achieved by IV buprenorphine alone. The patient would then receive 0.3 mg buprenorphine IV Q6hr PRN, scheduled IV acetaminophen 1 gram for 24 hours and methocarbamol 750mg QID after discharge from the PACU and transfer to the hospital floor on hospital day 1. The patient would then be converted to buprenorphine 2mg q6hr PRN and 975 gram PO APAP scheduled for pain control on hospital day number 2. The patient would receive their home dose of suboxone starting on hospital day number 2. On hospital day number 3, patients would be transitioned to an increased dose of their suboxone for pain control as determined by psychiatry in preparation for discharge.
Post-operatively both groups would receive psychiatric consult and PT/OT consult. Data on opioid consumption for the intra-operative period and post-operative period as well as post-operative pain scores will be recorded and analyzed for comparison. Morphine equivalents used per hour and per 24 hours would be analyzed as a primary endpoint. A patient pain satisfaction survey would be distributed and collected from both groups on hospital day #3. Data on length of stay, pain scores, and ED readmission for pain control would also be recorded and analyzed. Patients would be discharged on increased dose suboxone for 2 weeks for post-operative pain control. The patients would then transition back to their normal suboxone maintenance dose. A follow up phone call would be made at 2 and 4 weeks to the home clinic to assess patient follow up and potential relapse.
Univariate statistics (e.g. mean, median, standard deviation, interquartile range) will be used to summarize the collected data. Balance between the two groups for key patient variables will be assessed using a two-sided two-sample t-test using unequal variances and the Welch modification to the degrees of freedom. For categorical variables, the Chi-square test will be used. If non-parametric tests or exact methods are required, the Mann-Whitney U test and the Fisher exact test will be used as appropriate.
