Evaluation of the Use of Spinal Epimorph in Total Knee Arthroplasty

This will be a randomized control trial comparing two patient populations obtained from patients who will receive a primary total knee arthroplasty at LHSC University Campus. Patient participants will be recruited and consented from the arthroplasty clinic and from the preadmit clinic at University Hospital. Both the patients and those measuring the primary outcome, namely, visual pain scales will be blinded to the experimental treatment received.

Patients will be randomized to receive either a spinal with epimorph (150ug) or a spinal with no epimorph at the time of their total hip arthroplasty. This is determined as a result of a computer generated randomization within blocks of 10 (every 10 patients there will be an even number of patients within each group). As each patient signs up they are given a consecutive study number which will determine which group they are assigned to. Note should be made that at the current time patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty may or may not receive epimorph preoperatively depending on their anaesthesiologist (personal communication with Sue Ganapathy) and so both treatment arms represent the current standard of care at LHSC. Again, spinal epimorph is currently being administered for total joint replacement, irregardless of whether or not this study is being done. It is an acceptable standard of care analgesic that is available to each anesthetist should they choose to use it. Many choose to use it as they feel it improves analgesia in patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty, which are recognized as very painful procedures (especially total knees). This is no different that one anesthetist preferring to use dilaudid for pain control and another choosing to use morphine. Both are within accepted standard of care guidelines and it is up to the individual staff to utilize the drug they feel is most beneficial. This decision is based on each individual consultant's interpretation of the available literature as well as their personal practice experience. I hope this justifies our study as we are not introducing any new treatment. Patients will receive spinal epimorph whether or not we conduct this study. As such, no formal study discontinuation rules are applicable. Both patient groups will receive medical treatment as required around the time of their procedure.

Both groups of patients will receive standardized preoperative analgesia including gabapentin (600mg), acetaminophen (975 mg) and naprosyn (500mg). Both groups will receive local anaesthesia in the form of local infiltration of the wound with a previously studied cocktail of morphine, ketoralac, epinephrine and ropivicaine. (3) Post operatively patients will remain on PCA until post operative day one and then will be changed to a standardized oral protocol including long and short acting narcotics on a PRN basis, acetaminophen (975 mg Q6h x 48hrs and then on a PRN basis), naproxyn (500mg BID x 7 days) and gabapentin (300mg BID x 7 days).

Postoperatively visual analogue pain scales will be recorded at 6, 12, 18, 24, 36 and 48hrs as well as at 1 week. Foley usage, oxygen usage, nausea/vomiting and use of antiemetics and antipruritics will also be carefully documented. Both patient groups will receive the standard post operative physiotherapy and will be discharged home with a prescription for the narcotic or analgesics that were providing them with suitable analgesia during their hospital stay.