Opioid-Free Orthopaedics

November 10, 2026 updated by: Eric Wagner, Emory University

A Double-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial Examining Multimodal Opioid-Free Orthopaedic Procedures

The goal of this investigation is to compare effectiveness of this multimodal regimen at controlling postoperative pain with and without the use of opioid medications.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Prolonged opioid usage after orthopaedic surgery is an important consideration for both the opioid epidemic and postoperative outcomes. The investigators have developed a multimodal pain control regimen designed to decrease or even potentially eliminate the need for opioids after an orthopedic procedure. This is a prospective double blinded randomized controlled trial utilizing a multimodal pain regimen consisting of education and our standard multimodal pain control regimen. Then, the plan is to randomize patients to receive either encapsulated opioids or placebo. The team will assess patient's pain levels, satisfaction, opioid usage, side effects, patient reported outcomes, and complications. This study will serve as a foundation for future opioid-free surgeries and investigations, while helping to identify patients and factors at risk for prolonged opioid usage postoperatively.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
56

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Georgia
      • Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 30322
        • Emory University Hospital
      • Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 30029
        • The Emory Clinic
      • Tucker, Georgia, United States, 30084
        • Emory Orthopedic and Spine Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Any patient with advanced arthritis undergoing a total joint replacement (e.g. total shoulder arthroplasty, anatomic or reverse), in the primary setting.
  • Any patient undergoing an orthopaedic procedure or surgery of their finger, hand, wrist, forearm, or elbow
  • Any patient undergoing an orthopaedic procedure or surgery for their hip, knee, ankle or foot
  • Patients who have exhausted 3+ months of nonoperative treatment to include activity modifications, optional corticosteroid injections, and physical therapy.
  • Patients over the age of 18 years old that are willing to participate in the study and mentally capable to consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with concurrent and significant injuries to other bones or organs, local infections, history of alcohol or medical abuse, preoperative opioid use within 3 months of the surgery, advanced renal or liver disease, contraindication to receiving a nerve block, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (HbA1C >9.0), or if a prior gastric ulcer precludes Aspirin and anti-inflammatory medications. Prior to inclusion, the patient will undergo blood testing to evaluate both kidney and liver function, including estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) as well as alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST).
  • Workman's compensation status, minors, vulnerable subjects, women who are pregnant, or those who are not willing to consent to participate in the study.
  • Patients who, in the opinion of the investigator, may be non-compliant with study schedules or procedures

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Quadruple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: Opioid Group

Participants will receive encapsulated Oxycodone 5 mg tablets x24, to take po q6 hours as needed after surgery Safety" Prescription: Oxycodone5 mg po q6 hours as needed for pain
Drug: Oxycodone 5 mg Oral Tablet

Encapsulated Oxycodone 5 mg tablets x24, to take po q6 hours as needed
Experimental: Placebo Group

Participants will receive encapsulated placebo tablets x24, to take po q6 hours as need for pain after surgery "Safety" Prescription: Oxycodone5 mg po q6 hours as needed for pain
Drug: Placebo oral tablet

Encapsulated placebo tablets x24, to take po q6 hours as need for pain

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Pain (VAS) Score
Time Frame: Three times a day postoperatively for the first 2 weeks, then 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months postoperative

The investigators will assess patient postoperative pain utilizing a visual analog scale (VAS) for the first 14 days postoperatively. They will also assess pain at each postoperative visit after at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months and 24 months. This scale will assess pain at 3 different timepoints throughout the day defined as morning, afternoon, and evening. The pain scale will range from 0-10 with 10 being a worse outcome quantifying the highest pain rating.
Three times a day postoperatively for the first 2 weeks, then 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months postoperative

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Postoperative Opioid Consumption
Time Frame: Postoperative Days 1-14

Total opioid consumption in Morphine milligram equivalents (MME) during the first 2 weeks after surgery will be measured.
Postoperative Days 1-14
Number of participants that required Rescue Opioid Prescription
Time Frame: Postoperative Days 1-14

Number of participants that required the prescribed rescue ("safety") opioid prescription during the first 2 postoperative weeks.
Postoperative Days 1-14
Number of tables consumed as Rescue Opioid
Time Frame: Postoperative Days 1-14

Number of tablets taken from the prescribed rescue ("safety") opioid prescription during the first 2 postoperative weeks.
Postoperative Days 1-14
Number of Additional Opioid Prescription Refills
Time Frame: Postoperative Days 1-14

Number of additional opioid prescription refills required during the postoperative period.
Postoperative Days 1-14
Number of participants experiencing Postoperative Nausea
Time Frame: Three times a day postoperatively for the first 2 weeks

Number of participants experiencing nausea during the postoperative period. This scale will assess nausea at 3 different timepoints throughout the day defined as morning, afternoon, and evening. The scale will range from 0-10 with 10 being a worse outcome quantifying the highest nausea rating.
Three times a day postoperatively for the first 2 weeks
Hand/Wrist function Measured by the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE)
Time Frame: Baseline (Preoperative); and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively.

The Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) score requires the patient to rate their injured extremity 0-100 as a percentage of their function compared to normal. A rating of 0 is the minimum value and denotes the worse outcome a patient can have on the scale.
Baseline (Preoperative); and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively.
Upper Extremity Function Measured by the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH)
Time Frame: Baseline (Preoperative); and at 12 and 24 months postoperatively.

Upper extremity disability will be assessed using the QuickDASH questionnaire. Scores range from 0 to 100, with lower scores indicating less disability.
Baseline (Preoperative); and at 12 and 24 months postoperatively.
Overall Satisfaction with the procedure and Pain Management
Time Frame: 12 and 24 months postoperatively

Overall satisfaction with the surgical procedure and postoperative pain management will be assessed using a patient-reported 5-point rating scale. Participants will select one of the following responses: "Very satisfied", "satisfied", "neutral", "dissatisfied", and "Very dissatisfied".

Responses are assigned a score from 1 to 5, where 1 corresponds to "very dissatisfied" and 5 corresponds to "very satisfied". Higher scores indicate greater satisfaction and better perceived outcomes
12 and 24 months postoperatively
Willingness to undergo the same procedure with the same pain management
Time Frame: 12 and 24 months postoperatively

Number of Participants that confirm their willingness to undergo the same procedure again using the same postoperative pain management regimen.
12 and 24 months postoperatively
Number of participants Experiencing Major Postoperative Complications
Time Frame: From surgery through 24 months postoperatively

Number of participants experiencing one or more major postoperative complications, including temporary or permanent nerve injury, hematoma, superficial or deep infection, recurrent moderate or severe pain, fracture, implant loosening, dislocation, or revision surgery.
From surgery through 24 months postoperatively

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Emory University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Eric Wagner, MD, Emory University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
December 11, 2020

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
July 20, 2026

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
July 20, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
November 30, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
December 7, 2020

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
December 9, 2020

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
November 13, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 10, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
November 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • STUDY00000478

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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