Does Local Administration of Liposomal Bupivacaine Reduce Pain and Narcotic Consumption in Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery?

Liposomal Bupivacaine Reduces Post-Operative Pain and Opioids Consumption in Spine Surgery: A Meta-Analysis of 1,269 Patients

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Postoperative pain management in spine surgery remains a challenge. Liposomal bupivacaine (LB) has emerged as an alternative or adjunct to opioid-based analgesia. However, existing studies evaluating LB efficacy in spine surgery yield conflicting results and a meta-analysis compiling the literature is lacking.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate pain outcomes, opioid use, and LOS following LB administration after spine surgery STUDY DESIGN: Meta-analysis METHODS: Following the PRISMA guidelines, PubMed, Cochrane, and Google Scholar (pages 1-20) were accessed and explored up to May 2024. Data on medical complications, postoperative pain, postoperative opioid consumption, and length of stay were extracted. Mean differences (MD) with 95% CI were used for continuous data, and odds ratios (OR) were calculated for dichotomous data.

RESULTS

This meta-analysis comprised eleven studies consisting of 1269 patients (677 in the LB group, 592 in the control group). No statistically significant difference was observed in complication rates. The LB group exhibited significantly lower pain scores at postoperative day 2 (MD=-0.31; 95% CI: -0.52- -0.09, p=0.006), lower postoperative opioid consumption (MD=-0.42; 95% CI: -0.79- -0.06, p=0.02), and shorter length of stay (MD=-0.57; 95% CI: -0.94- -0.20, p=0.002).

CONCLUSION

In the immediate postoperative period after spine surgery, the utilization of liposomal bupivacaine was associated with improved pain outcomes, decreased opioid consumption, and shortened length of stay. Although further research is warranted, these findings suggest that LB may offer a valuable adjunct to pain management strategies in patients undergoing spine surgery.

Efficacy of Liposomal Bupivacaine in Reducing Opioid Use After Posterior Lumbar Spinal Decompression and Fusion

BACKGROUND

Despite improvements in drug therapy and treatment of lumbar spinal disorders, dependence on opioid medication for postoperative pain control remains a concern nationwide. This study assessed the ability to diminish the reliance on opioid medication postoperatively with the Food and Drug Administration-approved local anesthetic liposomal bupivacaine in open posterior lumbar decompression and fusion procedures. In addition, the possible effects of this modality on other parameters were studied regarding patients and their recovery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective chart review of 198 patients who underwent an open posterior lumbar laminectomy and fusion surgery with instrumentation treated by a single surgeon in a single institution was conducted. Ninety-nine patients who received liposomal bupivacaine administered intraoperatively were then matched by age, sex, and procedure with the same number of patients treated prior to the availability of liposomal bupivacaine. We evaluated how the use of liposomal bupivacaine affected the requirement for postoperative opioid medication, as well as related changes in length of stay, the use of antiemetics, and urinary retention postoperatively.

RESULTS

The patients who received liposomal bupivacaine required less than half of the morphine milligram equivalents of narcotic medications during their hospital stay compared with patients who did not receive liposomal bupivacaine (approximately 57% reduction).

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study suggest that the addition of liposomal bupivacaine to traditional pain management modalities can augment pain management for patients undergoing posterior lumbar surgery, as evidenced by the significant decrease in postoperative morphine milligram equivalents required. [Orthopedics. 2024;47(4):244-248.].

Liposomal bupivacaine in posterior spine surgery: A piece of the puzzle for postoperative pain

Background

Liposomal bupivacaine (LB) is a local analgesic that may be used at the time of surgery to limit postoperative pain around the surgical site. Its efficacy in decreasing pain, decreasing narcotic consumption, decreasing length of stay, and improving mobility is an area of intense research. The purpose of this study was to determine whether LB use was associated with improved patient-reported pain scores in the first 72 h following posterior spinal surgery, decreased postoperative narcotic need, and decreased length of stay.

Methods

One hundred and five patients undergoing elective posterior cervical or lumbar surgery were included in retrospective analysis. Forty-eight patients who received LB intraoperatively were compared with a historical cohort of 56 patients who underwent similar procedures and did not receive postsurgical infiltration with local analgesia. The same pain medication protocol was utilized postoperatively.

Results

Demographics, clinical characteristics, and total morphine milligram equivalents did not differ significantly between the groups. The treatment group averaged a decreased length of stay (1.85 days treatment, 2.68 days control, p = 0.057). Treatment with LB was associated with lower pain levels at 24 h (5.2 treatment, 6.4 control, p = 0.04) and 48-72 h (4.9 treatment, 6.6 control, p = 0.007) after surgery.

Conclusions

LB improved patient perception of pain in the acute postoperative time period.Intraoperative LB injection, coupled with focused early mobilization efforts and multimodal pain control, may lead to improved patient-reported outcomes, shorter length of stay, and decreased risk of perioperative complications.

Perioperative Care of Patients Undergoing Major Complex Spinal Instrumentation Surgery: Clinical Practice Guidelines From the Society for Neuroscience in Anesthesiology and Critical Care

Evidence-based standardization of the perioperative management of patients undergoing complex spine surgery can improve outcomes such as enhanced patient satisfaction, reduced intensive care and hospital length of stay, and reduced costs. The Society for Neuroscience in Anesthesiology and Critical Care (SNACC) tasked an expert group to review existing evidence and generate recommendations for the perioperative management of patients undergoing complex spine surgery, defined as surgery on 2 or more thoracic and/or lumbar spine levels. Institutional clinical management protocols can be constructed based on the elements included in these clinical practice guidelines, and the evidence presented.