The goal of this clinical trial is to see if a new pain medicine called Tegileridine is at least as effective as morphine (the standard treatment) for pain relief after spinal surgery in teenagers with scoliosis. This type of study is called a "non-inferiority" trial. The study will also carefully compare the safety of both medicines. The main questions it aims to answer are: Is Tegileridine no worse than morphine at controlling pain in the first 24 hours after surgery? How do the side effects (like sleepiness or nausea) of Tegileridine compare to those of morphine? Researchers will compare two different doses of Tegileridine against morphine. Neither the participants nor the doctors assessing them will know which medicine is being given. Participants in this study will: Receive one of the three pain medicine options through a pump (called a PCA pump) that they can control themselves after surgery. Use the pump for up to 48 hours. Regularly rate their pain levels using a simple number scale. Have their health closely monitored by the study team during this time.
This is a prospective, single-center, randomized, double-blind, controlled, non-inferiority clinical trial designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Tegileridine for postoperative patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) in adolescent patients undergoing spinal fusion surgery for scoliosis. Postoperative pain management is crucial for recovery, with opioids like morphine being the standard of care. However, morphine is associated with significant side effects, including respiratory depression, nausea, and vomiting. Tegileridine is a novel, highly selective μ-opioid receptor agonist that is hypothesized to provide potent analgesia with an improved safety profile, particularly regarding respiratory depression. A total of 171 adolescent patients (aged 10 to \<18 years) scheduled for surgery will be enrolled. Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to one of three treatment groups: Group T1: Tegileridine PCA at a dose of 1 μg/kg per bolus. Group T2: Tegileridine PCA at a dose of 2 μg/kg per bolus. Group M (Active Comparator): Morphine PCA at a dose of 20 μg/kg per bolus. The study medication will be prepared by an unblinded nurse not involved in subsequent patient care or assessment. The PCA pump will be initiated upon arrival in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) after surgery and will be maintained for 48 hours. To maintain blinding, the study drugs are diluted in normal saline to appear identical. Patients, attending anesthesiologists, and outcome assessors will all be blinded to the treatment assignment. The primary objective is to demonstrate the non-inferiority of Tegileridine to morphine in terms of analgesic efficacy. The primary efficacy endpoint is the area under the curve (AUC) of resting pain intensity scores, measured on an 11-point Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), over the first 24 hours after initiating PCA. A predefined non-inferiority margin of 12 will be used for the comparison. Statistical testing will follow a hierarchical procedure, first comparing the T2 group to the morphine group, and if non-inferiority is established, proceeding to compare the T1 group to morphine. Secondary objectives include comparing the groups on various efficacy measures, such as pain AUC at other time points, rescue analgesic consumption, and patient satisfaction. Safety objectives focus on the incidence and severity of adverse events, with continuous monitoring for postoperative hypoxemia (SpO₂ \< 90%), assessment of sedation levels using the modified Pasero Opioid-induced Sedation Scale (m-POSS), and recording of other common opioid-related side effects like postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). The primary analysis will be conducted on the Full Analysis Set (FAS). Sensitivity analyses and a pre-specified subgroup analysis by gender are also planned.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
171
Tegileridine is an investigational novel opioid receptor agonist. In this study, it is administered as an intravenous infusion via a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump for postoperative pain management. The PCA solution is prepared by diluting Tegileridine injection in normal saline.
Morphine is a standard opioid analgesic used as the active comparator in this study. It is administered as an intravenous infusion via a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump for postoperative pain management. The PCA solution is prepared by diluting Morphine injection in normal saline.
Peking Union Medical College Hospital
Beijing, China
Area Under the Curve (AUC) of Resting Pain Scores on the 11-point Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) Over the First 24 Hours Postoperative
The analgesic efficacy will be assessed by calculating the Area Under the Curve (AUC) of the resting pain intensity scores over the first 24 hours after initiating Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA). Pain Intensity Measurement: Pain intensity is assessed by the participant using an 11-point Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), where 0 represents "no pain" and 10 represents "the worst pain imaginable." Resting state is defined as being in a stationary position without active movement. Assessment Time Points: NRS scores are recorded at predefined time points: 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, 8 hours, 10 hours, 12 hours, 18 hours, and 24 hours after PCA initiation. AUC Calculation: The AUC for the NRS scores versus time is calculated using the trapezoidal rule, which sums the areas of trapezoids formed between consecutive time points. A lower AUC indicates better and more sustained pain control over the 24-hour period.
Time frame: From the initiation of Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA) up to 24 hours post-initiation.
Area Under the Curve (AUC) of Resting Pain Scores on the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) Over Multiple Time Intervals
The AUC of resting pain intensity scores (measured on an 11-point NRS, where 0 represents "no pain" and 10 represents "the worst pain imaginable") will be calculated using the trapezoidal rule. The AUC will be calculated for the following cumulative time intervals after PCA initiation: 0-6 hours, 0-12 hours, and 0-48 hours. A lower AUC indicates better and more sustained pain control over the specified period.
Time frame: The AUC will be calculated for the cumulative intervals from PCA initiation up to 6 hours, 12 hours, and 48 hours post-initiation.
Area Under the Curve (AUC) of Activity-Induced Pain Scores on the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) over Multiple Intervals
The AUC of pain intensity scores during activity (or coughing) measured on an 11-point NRS will be calculated over the intervals of 0-6 hours, 0-12 hours, 0-24 hours, and 0-48 hours after PCA initiation. The AUC is calculated using the trapezoidal rule.
Time frame: Assessed at 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours after PCA initiation.
Resting and Activity-Induced Pain Scores on the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) at Multiple Time Points
Pain intensity will be assessed using the 11-point NRS (0=no pain, 10=worst pain imaginable) at rest and during activity (or coughing) at the following time points after PCA initiation: 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, 8 hours, 10 hours, 12 hours, 18 hours, 24 hours, 30 hours, 36 hours, 42 hours, and 48 hours.
Time frame: Assessed at 16 predefined time points from 5 minutes to 48 hours after PCA initiation.
Proportion of Participants Requiring Rescue Analgesia
The percentage of participants who receive rescue analgesia during the PCA treatment period. Rescue analgesia is defined as the administration of additional analgesic medication (e.g., acetaminophen, NSAIDs, or other opioids) when the participant's pain is not adequately controlled (NRS score ≥4) despite receiving the study drug.
Time frame: From PCA initiation up to 48 hours post-initiation.
Time to First Use of Rescue Analgesia
The time elapsed from the initiation of the PCA pump to the first administration of any rescue analgesic medication.
Time frame: From PCA initiation up to 48 hours post-initiation (time to event is measured).
Total Number of Rescue Analgesic Administrations Per Participant
The total count of rescue analgesic medication administrations required for each participant during the PCA treatment period, when pain was not controlled (NRS ≥4) by the study drug.
Time frame: From PCA initiation up to 48 hours post-initiation.
Cumulative Dose of Rescue Analgesic Medication
The total cumulative dose of all rescue analgesic medications used by each participant during the PCA treatment period. Doses of different opioids will be converted to morphine milligram equivalents (MME) for summation.
Time frame: From PCA initiation up to 48 hours post-initiation.
Proportion of Participants with Pain NRS Score ≤ 3 at Each Assessment Time Point
The percentage of participants who achieve a pain intensity score of 3 or less (indicating mild pain) on the 11-point NRS at the following time points after PCA initiation: 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, 8 hours, 10 hours, 12 hours, 18 hours, 24 hours, 30 hours, 36 hours, 42 hours, and 48 hours.
Time frame: Assessed at 16 predefined time points from 5 minutes to 48 hours after PCA initiation.
Total Number of PCA Pump Attempts and Successful Deliveries
The total number of demands (attempts) made by the participant on the PCA pump and the total number of successful drug deliveries (effective deliveries) recorded by the pump during the treatment period.
Time frame: From PCA initiation up to 48 hours post-initiation.
Postoperative Length of Hospital Stay
The duration of hospitalization after the surgical procedure, measured from the day of surgery until the day of discharge.
Time frame: From the day of surgery to the day of hospital discharge, an average of 10 days.
Satisfaction with Pain Treatment
Participants' satisfaction with pain management is assessed using an 11-point numerical scale (0=extremely dissatisfied, 10=extremely satisfied) within 30 minutes after the cessation of PCA therapy.
Time frame: At 30 minutes after stopping PCA (typically around 48 hours post-surgery).
Incidence of Postoperative Hypoxemia
The proportion of participants experiencing postoperative hypoxemia, defined as a percutaneous oxygen saturation (SpO2) reading below 90%, as monitored by pulse oximetry during the PCA treatment period.
Time frame: From PCA initiation up to 48 hours post-initiation.
Incidence and Severity of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting (PONV)
The occurrence and severity of PONV assessed by healthcare personnel using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for nausea/vomiting (0=no nausea/vomiting, 10=worst imaginable nausea/vomiting) at specified time points. Severity is categorized as mild (VAS\<4cm), moderate (VAS 4-7cm), or severe (VAS\>7cm).
Time frame: Assessed at 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 6 hours, 12 hours, 18 hours, 24 hours, 36 hours, and 48 hours after PCA initiation.
Level of Sedation as Assessed by the Modified Pasero Opioid-Induced Sedation Scale (m-POSS)
The level of sedation is assessed by healthcare personnel using the m-POSS, which includes scores from S (sleep, easily aroused) to 4 (somnolent, minimal or no response to stimulus). Higher scores indicate deeper sedation.
Time frame: Assessed at 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 6 hours, 12 hours, 18 hours, 24 hours, 36 hours, and 48 hours after PCA initiation.
Incidence of Other Adverse Events
The occurrence of other predefined adverse events during the treatment period, including abdominal pain, abdominal distension (time to first flatus and defecation), fever, dizziness, headache, sinus bradycardia, somnolence, and pruritus.
Time frame: From PCA initiation up to 48 hours post-initiation.
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