Purpose

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether an opioid-sparing postoperative pain regimen can reduce opioid consumption and maintain effective pain control in adults undergoing anterior total hip arthroplasty for osteoarthritis. The main questions it aims to answer are: - Does an opioid-limited regimen result in lower postoperative opioid use compared with a standard opioid prescription? - Does the opioid-limited regimen provide comparable or improved postoperative pain control and patient satisfaction?

Conditions

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Over 18 Years
Eligible Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • Diagnosis of hip osteoarthritis requiring primary arthroplasty - Scheduled to undergo anterior total hip arthroplasty (THA) - Able to comply with study procedures and follow-up visits - Able to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

  • Concurrent significant injuries to other bones or organs - Local infection at or near the surgical site - Preoperative opioid use within 4 weeks prior to surgery - History of severe heart disease (NYHA Class II or higher), renal failure, or liver dysfunction - Chronic liver disease - Neurological or psychiatric conditions that may influence pain perception - Pregnancy - History of alcohol or medication abuse - Inability to take NSAIDs - Use of postoperative DVT prophylaxis other than aspirin 81 mg twice daily - Diabetes mellitus with HbA1c > 8.0% - Diagnosis of chronic pain syndrome or fibromyalgia - Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) score > 29 - Any condition that, in the investigator's judgment, may interfere with adherence to study procedures or follow-up

Study Design

Phase
Phase 3
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
Triple (Participant, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
Opioid-Sparing Regimen
Participants receive a standardized multimodal non-opioid analgesic regimen throughout the perioperative period and are discharged with placebo tablets instead of a standard opioid prescription. All participants receive counseling from a Life Care Specialist and a limited supply of rescue hydromorphone for severe breakthrough pain.
  • Drug: Placebo
    - 28 tablets identical in appearance to 5-mg oxycodone - Taken 1-2 tablets every 4 hours as needed for moderate to severe pain - Dispensed by Investigational Drug Services - Used in combination with standardized multimodal analgesia
  • Other: Multimodal Non-Opioid Analgesia
    Multimodal Non-Opioid Analgesia (Standardized Regimen) Includes: - Acetaminophen - Meloxicam - Methylprednisolone taper - Spinal anesthesia - Periarticular local anesthetic injection - Postoperative scheduled acetaminophen and NSAIDs - Counseling by Life Care Specialist - Two 2-mg hydromorphone tablets for rescue only
Active Comparator
Standard Opioid Prescription
Participants receive the same standardized multimodal non-opioid analgesic regimen and Life Care Specialist counseling as the experimental group, but are discharged with a standard opioid prescription.
  • Drug: Oxycodone 5 mg
    - 28 tablets of 5-mg oxycodone - Taken 1-2 tablets every 4 hours as needed for moderate to severe pain - Represents standard postoperative prescribing practi
  • Other: Multimodal Non-Opioid Analgesia
    Multimodal Non-Opioid Analgesia (Standardized Regimen) Includes: - Acetaminophen - Meloxicam - Methylprednisolone taper - Spinal anesthesia - Periarticular local anesthetic injection - Postoperative scheduled acetaminophen and NSAIDs - Counseling by Life Care Specialist - Two 2-mg hydromorphone tablets for rescue only

Recruiting Locations

Emory University Orthopedics and Spine Hospital
Atlanta, Georgia 30329
Contact:
Ajay Premkumar, MD
404-778-3350
ajay.premkumar@emory.edu

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
Emory University

Study Contact

Ajay Premkumar, MD
404-778-3350
ajay.premkumar@emory.edu

Detailed Description

This study evaluates whether an opioid-sparing postoperative regimen can reduce opioid use while maintaining effective pain control in adults undergoing anterior total hip arthroplasty for osteoarthritis. Although opioids are commonly used after joint replacement, they carry risks such as side effects and long-term dependence. Multimodal analgesic strategies-using combinations of non-opioid medications and local anesthetic techniques-have shown promise in reducing opioid requirements while providing adequate pain relief. All participants in this randomized, double-blind trial will receive a standardized multimodal non-opioid pain regimen throughout the perioperative period, along with counseling from a Life Care Specialist. Participants will be assigned to receive either a standard opioid prescription or placebo tablets at discharge, with a small supply of rescue hydromorphone available for severe breakthrough pain. Pain scores, nausea, opioid consumption, and patient-reported outcomes will be collected during the first postoperative week and at follow-up visits at 3 weeks and 3 months. The study aims to determine whether limiting routine opioid prescribing after hip arthroplasty can safely reduce opioid exposure without compromising recovery or patient satisfaction.

Notice

Study information shown on this site is derived from ClinicalTrials.gov (a public registry operated by the National Institutes of Health). The listing of studies provided is not certain to be all studies for which you might be eligible. Furthermore, study eligibility requirements can be difficult to understand and may change over time, so it is wise to speak with your medical care provider and individual research study teams when making decisions related to participation.