Effect of NSAIDs on Union, Opioid Utilization and Pain Management for Tibia Fractures

The proposed study is a two arm, pragmatic, randomized controlled multicenter Phase III noninferiority trial. Patients with diaphyseal tibia fractures treated with intramedullary (IM) nail will be randomized into two treatment arms. The control arm will receive standard pain management with no NSAIDs. The treatment arm will receive standard pain management plus up to six weeks of NSAIDs (3 weeks of prescribed medication followed by 3 weeks of medication PRN).

The hypothesis is that pain management using up to 6 weeks of NSAIDs will result in improved pain control and lower opioid consumption but demonstrate non-inferior levels of complications compared to standard of care pain management. The aim of the study is to:

Specific Aim: Evaluate the effect of standard pain management without NSAIDs (Group 1) vs. standard pain management plus up to 6 weeks of NSAIDs (Group 2) in the treatment of tibial shaft fractures.

Primary Hypothesis: When compared to patients who received standard of care pain management, patients treated with up to 6 weeks of NSAIDs will have noninferior rates of surgery for to promote union at one year.

Secondary Hypotheses: When compared to patients who received standard of care pain management without NSAIDs, patients treated with up to 6 weeks of NSAIDs will benefit from (1) reduced opioid utilization; (2) reduced levels of persistent pain; (3) reduced pain interference; (4) improved functional outcomes; (5) noninferior rates of analgesic treatment related side effects; and (6) noninferior rates of radiographic union.

Study design: At time of IM nailing surgery for acute diaphyseal tibia fracture, patients will be randomized to treatment or control group. Treatment patients will receive a standard of care pain regimen and oral ibuprofen 600 mg three times a day (tid) for up to six weeks (3 weeks of prescribed medication followed by 3 weeks of medication PRN). Control patients will receive a standard of care pain regimen prescribed by the treating physician and may not use NSAIDs. Patients in both arms will be permitted to receive 81mg of daily aspirin. Patient medication adherence will be documented via an electronic data collection interface through mobile or web-based application. Patients who do not have access to documenting adherence electronically will be given paper-based medication dairies by the research team.

Follow-Up: Clinical, functional, and radiographic follow-up will be conducted at typical standard of care intervals of 2-3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and one year.

Study duration: 3.75 years (18 month accrual, 24 month final follow-up, 3 month analysis and writing).

Sample size: 1,000 (500 per arm (2) arms)

Number of study sites: 14 sites (13 Civilian and 1 Military Treatment Facility)

Study population: The study population will consist of a relatively homogeneous group of 1,000 patients with orthopaedic trauma: patients with open or closed diaphyseal tibia fractures. Since military combat injuries are typically open, open fractures will be included in this study. However, since post-surgical pain after these injuries is not limited to the open fractures, and the practices of pain management should apply to both open and closed injuries, closed versions of these high energy injuries in the study population will also be included.