This research is being done to determine quantitative and qualitative differences in patients' post-operative pain levels following elective orthognathic surgery after the local administration of a liposomal bupivacaine injection. A primary objective is to determine whether using a liposomal bupivacaine injection placed locally at the conclusion of elective orthognathic surgery will decrease pain levels (as determined by VAS scores). A secondary objective is to examine whether using a long acting liposomal bupivacaine injection locally at the conclusion of elective orthognathic surgery leads to decreased use of narcotics post-operatively.
Participants in Group 1 (study group) will receive ExparelTM (133 mg/10 ml - 4 ml into the maxilla, and 6 ml into the mandible). This will be injected into the soft tissue and gingiva surrounding the surgical site at the time of wound closure. Participants in Group 2 (standard of care) will receive bupivacaine 0.5% (4 ml into the maxilla, and 6 ml into the mandible) injected into the soft tissue and gingiva surrounding the surgical site at the time of wound closure. Post-operatively, all participants will be cared for utilizing the current standard post-operative pain management protocol for all patients undergoing elective orthognathic surgery at Boston Medical Center. This consists of acetaminophen 325 mg given every 4 hours as a scheduled medication; patients also receive an additional 325 mg of acetaminophen for a reported pain level of 1-3, 5 mg of oxycodone for a reported pain level of 4-6, and 10 mg of oxycodone for a reported pain level of 7-10. All participants will be provided the same methods of postoperative pain control following their elective orthognathic surgery.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Bupivacaine Extended Release Liposome Injection (Exparel TM) 133 mg diluted in 10ml of normal saline (13.3 mg/ml) will be injected with a 25 gauge needle directly into the gingiva surrounding the surgical site at the conclusion of surgery.
10ml of Bupivacaine HCl 0.5% will be injected with a 25 gauge needle directly into the gingiva surrounding the surgical site at the conclusion of surgery.
Boston Medical Center
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Change in Post operative pain
After surgery, participants will document in a pain journal what their pain level is based on a smiley face visual analog scale (VAS) from 0-10, where 0='no pain' and 10='worst possible, unbearable, excruciating pain'. They will rate their pain using the VAS 14 times - every 4 hours the first 48 hours and then at 72 and 96 hours post surgery. Higher scores are associated with more severe pain. The participant will return the pain journal at their post operative assessment visit.
Time frame: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 72, and 96 hours after surgery
Post operative narcotic use
The time and dosage of narcotics used in the postoperative period will be documented in the participants' medical record records while hospitalized and documented in the participants' pain journal once discharged. The data from the medical records and pain journal will be used to assess total narcotic pain use.
Time frame: daily up to the 2 week post surgical visit
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