Liposomal Bupivacaine for Supraclavicular Brachial Block in DR Surgery
Status:
Not yet recruiting
Trial end date:
2023-12-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Brachial plexus blocks (BPB) are commonly used to provide regional anaesthesia for patients
undergoing distal radial fracture surgery. Distal radial (DR) fracture surgery is a commonly
performed orthopaedic surgery, and is usually associated with moderate postoperative pain.
Poor postoperative pain control can impair rehabilitation, delay recovery and negatively
impact outcomes after surgery. Liposomal bupivacaine (EXPAREL) is a multivesicular
formulation of bupivacaine that allows rapid absorption and prolonged release of bupivacaine.
Liposomal bupivacaine can provide longer analgesia for up to 72 hours, and may therefore
achieve greater analgesic efficacy compared to non-liposomal long-acting local anaesthetics.
A number of clinical trials have studied the effect liposomal bupivacaine given as local
infiltration. However, there is little evidence on liposomal bupivacaine for regional nerve
blocks, and the use of liposomal bupivacaine for supraclavicular brachial plexus block -
which is used for regional anaesthesia for distal radial fracture surgery - have not been
studied before. This project is a randomized controlled trial to determine whether adding
liposomal bupivacaine to long-acting local anaesthetics for supraclavicular BPB will improve
and prolong postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing distal radial fracture surgery.
Longer term secondary outcomes would be accessed including upper limb functional scores,
chronic pain, and health related quality of life.