Is buprenorphine transdermal patch equally safe and effective in younger and elderly patients with osteoarthritis-related pain? Results of an age-group controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: A recent pharmacokinetic study with buprenorphine transdermal patches showed similar systemic exposures of buprenorphine in subjects aged ≥75 and 50-60 years. The current prospective, open-label study aimed to verify this in a clinical setting by evaluating efficacy and safety of buprenorphine patches in patients with chronic osteoarthritis (OA) pain. METHODS: Patients with chronic, moderate to severe osteoarthritic pain (hip and/or knee) were enrolled: 50-60 years (younger group, N = 65) and ≥75 years (elderly group, N = 57). After 2 weeks on paracetamol only, patients received buprenorphine patches (5-40 µg/h) for 12 weeks. Paracetamol rescue was provided. Primary endpoint was the Box-Scale-11 (BS-11) score for pain on average over the last week. WOMAC OA Index, EQ-5D, Patients' and Investigators' Global Assessment of Pain Relief, rescue medication use, sleep disturbance and quality of sleep were secondary efficacy endpoints. RESULTS: Both groups showed a statistically significant (p < 0.0001) and clinically relevant change from baseline to last visit in BS-11 score, with no significant difference between groups. The least squares (LS) mean change from baseline was 2.20 in elderly and 1.87 in younger patients, with an age group difference of 0.33 (95% CI: -0.42, 1.07). Non-inferiority of the elderly versus the younger group was shown. Both age groups showed a significant improvement in WOMAC total score, patients' overall health state (EQ-5D visual analogue scale) and sleep quality, and a significant reduction in rescue use and nights woken due to pain, with no significant differences between groups. Elderly patients tolerated buprenorphine patches at least as well as younger patients. CONCLUSIONS: Efficacy and tolerability of buprenorphine patches was demonstrated in chronic pain patients, regardless of age, supporting the conclusion that no age-related dose adjustment of transdermal buprenorphine is needed. A study limitation is lack of active control but no other opioid was appropriate in elderly patients or this indication.

Postoperative pain following knee arthroscopy: the effects of intra-articular ketorolac and/or morphine.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Morphine and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID) have been found to be effective in relieving postoperative pain. The goal of this study was to determine whether ketorolac alone or in combination with morphine provides superior pain relief following arthroscopy performed with local anesthesia (LA). METHODS: This was a randomized, double-blind, prospective, study in 100 healthy patients from 15 to 60 years of age. Knee arthroscopy was performed with LA using 40 mL prilocaine (5 mg/mL) with adrenaline (4 microg/mL). At the end of the operation, a catheter was inserted intra-articularly, and one of the following solutions diluted to a total volume of 40 mL was injected: group P (40 mL normal saline), group M (3 mg morphine), group K30 (30 mg ketorolac), group K60 (60 mg ketorolac), and group KM (3 mg morphine + 30 mg ketorolac). Visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores (0-100 mm) were measured preoperative and at 30, 60, 90, 120 minutes postoperative and thereafter 4, 8, 24, and 48 hours at rest and on movement of the knee. The total number of distalgesic tablets (325 mg paracetamol + 32.5 mg dextropropoxyphene) consumed during the 48 hours postoperative was recorded. RESULTS: Significant differences in VAS pain scores were seen between group P and group KM at 4, 8, and 24 hours (P < .05) and between group M and group KM at 4, 8, 24, and 48 hours (P < .01) after the operation at rest. During mobilization of the knee, a significant difference in VAS pain score was found between group P and group KM at 8, 24, and 48 hours (P < .05) and between group P and group K60 at 24 and 48 hours (P < .05). The total consumption of distalgesic tablets did not differ among the groups. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of 3 mg morphine plus 30 mg ketorolac provided significantly better analgesia than either placebo alone or morphine alone. This result could be a synergistic effect.

Primary anterior dislocation of the shoulder in young patients. A ten-year prospective study.

Two hundred and forty-five patients who had had 247 primary anterior dislocations of the shoulder were followed for ten years in a multicenter study at twenty-seven Swedish hospitals. The ages of the patients at the time of the dislocation ranged from twelve to forty years. The patients were assigned to one of three treatment groups: immobilization with the arm tied with a bandage to the torso for three to four weeks after reduction of the dislocation; use of a sling, which was discontinued after the patient was comfortable; or immobilization for various durations. At the ten-year follow-up evaluation, no additional dislocation had occurred in 129 shoulders (52 per cent). Recurrent dislocation necessitating operative treatment had developed in fifty-eight shoulders (23 per cent): thirty-four (34 per cent) of the ninety-nine shoulders in patients who were twelve to twenty-two years old, sixteen (28 per cent) of the fifty-seven shoulders in patients who were twenty-three to twenty-nine years old, and eight (9 per cent) of the ninety-one shoulders in patients who were thirty to forty years old. Twenty-four (22 per cent) of the shoulders that had had at least two recurrences during the first two or five years seemed to have stabilized spontaneously without operative intervention at ten years. Dislocation of the contralateral shoulder occurred in association with sixteen (16 per cent) of the ninety-nine shoulders in patients who were twelve to twenty-two years old, twelve (21 per cent) of the fifty-seven shoulders in patients who were twenty-three to twenty-nine years old, and only three (3 per cent) of the ninety-one shoulders in patients who were thirty to forty years old. The type and duration of the initial treatment had no effect on the rate of recurrence. Radiographs, made for 185 shoulders at the time of the primary dislocation, demonstrated an evident Hermodsson (Hill-Sachs) lesion in ninety-nine shoulders (54 per cent); this finding was associated with a significantly worse prognosis with regard to recurrence than was no evident lesion (p < 0.04). Radiographs made for 208 shoulders at the ten-year follow-up examination were evaluated for post-dislocation arthropathy. Twenty-three shoulders (11 per cent) had mild arthropathy and eighteen (9 per cent) had moderate or severe arthropathy. Some of the shoulders that had arthropathy had had no recurrence.

Three irrigation systems for motorized arthroscopic surgery: a comparative experimental and clinical study.

The purpose of this study was to compare experimentally and clinically three types of irrigation systems for arthroscopic suction surgery. A joint model was used in the experimental part of the study. It was found that a combination of inflow from a volume pump with extra gravity inflow through a separate cannula gave results comparable to those with more sophisticated automatic pumps. Clinically, none of the systems provided protection from high-pressure peaks during rapid movements of the knee joint. It was also found that the pressure differed in the superior and posteromedial compartments of the knee during rapid movement.

Elevated position of the irrigation outflow during arthroscopy: an experimental study.

The purpose of this study was to investigate different types of irrigation systems and to record pressures and flows in a joint model. Gravity inflow and three different pumps were compared, and the level of the outflow in relation to the model was tested. Flow rates of 100-200 ml/min and pressures ranging from negative to 100 mm Hg were found. There were minor differences between the irrigation systems, mainly concerning safety aspects. Elevated position of the outflow could be of value in controlling and optimizing pressures and flows during arthroscopy.

Elevated position of suction outflow during arthroscopic motorized surgery: an experimental study.

Different irrigation systems for use during arthroscopic suction surgery were investigated in a knee model. Gravity inflow and three different pumps were used. With suction at floor level, none of the systems was able to maintain a positive pressure within the model during suction even when the suction pressures were reduced. With elevated position of the suction outflow, a positive pressure could be maintained. This principle seems to minimize the problem and is recommended.