Minimal Opioid Use After Total Hip Replacement (THR)

Overview

Total hip arthroplasty can be associated with significant postoperative pain. Side effects of pain management may impair participation in physical therapy and slow readiness for discharge from the hospital. In a previous study done by the investigators' group, epidural patient controlled analgesia (EPCA) with a hydromorphone containing solution appeared to have a more favorable pain profile with ambulation, but greater side effects compared to injection of a peri-articular cocktail. The use of opioid was greater in the peri-articular injection group (PAI). There was no difference in length of stay. In view of the controversy over opioid use, the investigators would like to develop an optimal opioid sparing pain management approach by comparing 3 different protocols 1) Plain local anesthetic EPCA; 2) PAI; 3) EPCA + PAI; all in conjunction with a multimodal opioid sparing pain regimen. The goal would be to maximize pain control while minimizing opioid use and side-effects.

Long acting narcotics or scheduled doses of narcotics are often used as part of a multimodal pain regimen. In this study, this is eliminated. Instead, it uses a cocktail of different drugs including intraoperative Ketamine use (NMDA receptor antagonist), intra-op Benadryl (to decrease excitation of nociceptors) and IV Tylenol. The narcotic free regimen starts preoperatively with the use of Aspirin,Clonidine patch, Cymbalta (Duloxetine), and is maintained both intraoperatively and post operatively. Baby ASA (81mg) is being used as an anti-inflammatory agent. A number of studies including the one by Morris et al. (2009), have shown via in vitro experiments that low dose aspirin decreases polymorphonuclear leukocyte and macrophage accumulation. It inhibits thromboxane making it an antithrombotic agent as well. The concern with aspirin has been major bleeding. Several studies in the orthopedic patient population using ≤81 mg of aspirin have shown that it does not increase bleeding (Cuellar, Mantz). At HSS, patients are routinely continued on baby aspirin when needed for its cardio protective effect. Devereaux in the POISE trial did show an increased risk of bleeding when ASA was given preoperatively at a dose of 200 mg. In our study, all patients will be given intravenous tranexamic acid which should mitigate against the risk of bleeding. Duloxetine is also being added. In a recent study done at HSS. Duloxetine was found to decrease the amount of opioid use and nausea. If found to be more effective with the use of EPCA vs. PAI or combination of the two, a new way of managing postop pain while minimizing Nnartcuoreti co fu Ssetu adsy per CDC recommendation will be helpful in managing patients post-operatively.