View clinical trials related to Spondylolisthesis, Lumbar Region.
Filter by:Spinal operations including lumbar fusions for degenerative disorders are becoming more prevalent as the population ages. Inadequate or excessive postoperative analgesia can result in medical comorbidities and prolonged hospital length of stay and patient dissatisfaction. Existing literature has highlighted the preoperative administration of methadone as a promising adjuvant for post operative pain control. Methadone has the benefit of being long-acting and has more stable serum concentration and a single preoperative dose may have significant benefits post operatively. Here the investigators propose a prospective parallel-group, randomized, double-blinded study to assess post operative analgesic requirements after preoperative administration of either methadone 15 mg or Oxycodone 10/325. Primary outcome will be total IV and PO narcotic consumption in the post operative course. Secondary outcomes examined will include time to mobility, need for specialist pain management consultation, early readmission (within 2 weeks) for inadequate pain control, and complications associated with administration.
For the increasing numbers of patients undergoing fusion procedures for the degenerative lumbar spine, infection and re-operation can negatively impact outcomes. Numerous observational and retrospective reviews have shown advantages to para-median versus midline approaches; however, recent systematic reviews have shown a need for a well-powered, prospective randomized control trials comparing both exposures. As a step towards a long-term goal of an RCT to address this issue, the purpose of this pilot study is to gather initial data to examine whether operative approach impacts the short-term infection rate, re-operation rate, length of stay, and overall costs to the system. Patients deemed appropriate surgical candidates with single or two-level degenerative spondylolisthesis will be approached for participation, and randomized into either the midline or paramedian group. Initial follow-ups will be at 2 and 6 weeks, and 3 months. Infection rates, inpatient and outpatient adverse events, re-operation rates, radiation exposure and costs will be determined. Cost effectiveness analysis will be estimated comparing each procedure using a bottom-up estimation. Post-operative wound infection can have a significant effect on patient short and long term outcomes. If a significant difference in infection rate is demonstrated, as well as lower re-operation rates, shorter stays, and decreased overall costs, adoption of paramedian approaches to single or two-level fusions of the lumbar spine might be suggested, providing fuel for a full-scale RCT.