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Comparing Bupivacaine Options for Wrist Surgery Pain

This study is looking at ways to manage pain after wrist surgery, specifically for conditions like distal radius fractures. Many people experience significant pain after these procedures. The study is comparing two different medications, Liposomal bupivacaine (Exparel) and Bupivacaine Hydrochloride, given as a single injection near the collarbone (supraclavicular nerve block). This type of injection helps reduce pain and may lessen the need for opioid pain medications. Researchers want to see how effective Exparel is compared to standard bupivacaine in controlling pain and improving your recovery after surgery. You may be able to join if you are an adult (18 or older) scheduled for orthopedic wrist surgery at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and do not have reasons why you can't receive regional anesthesia.

Study design
This study plans to enroll 100 participants to compare two different pain medications. It is an interventional study, meaning participants will receive one of the two treatments.
What's involved
You would complete a Quality of Recovery survey before your surgery and again at 24 and 48 hours after your surgery.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants will be followed for 48 hours after surgery to assess their recovery.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT06179004

Supraclavicular Bupivacaine Vs. Supraclavicular Liposomal Bupivacaine for Orthopedic Wrist Surgery

Recruiting
PHASE3Ages 18+InterventionalTreatment
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
~100 participants
Updated 2025-10-24 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Liposomal bupivacaineBupivacaine Hydrochloride

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Pre-operative and 48-hour Post-operative Quality of Recovery 15 survey score
Measured over Pre-operative and at 24 hours and 48 hours post-operative

Conditions

Distal Radius Fractures
Wrist Fractures

Explore related trials

Distal Radius FracturesWrist Fracture

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
North Carolina1

Study leadership

  • Jay Schoenherr, MD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Who to contact

Jay Schoenherr, MD
[email protected]
9199515062
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Age greater than or equal to 18
Scheduled for orthopedic wrist surgery at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Exclusion

Contraindications to regional anesthesia
Emergent surgery Open fractures will be treated emergently and will not allow adequate lead time for enrollment in this study. Also, open fractures are usually accompanied by other traumatic injuries that would confound the pain related outcomes in this study.
Significant peripheral neuropathy or neurological disorder affecting the upper extremity
Pregnancy Pregnant women have physiologic changes that make them more sensitive to local anesthetics. That would introduce a confounding element in interpreting the effectiveness of the peripheral nerve blocks being studied.
Cognitive or psychiatric condition that might affect patient assessment and/or inability to provide informed consent.

What this trial measures

  • Pre-operative and 48-hour Post-operative Quality of Recovery 15 survey scorePre-operative and at 24 hours and 48 hours post-operative

    The quality of recovery-15 (QoR-15) is a validated questionnaire to assess postoperative recovery. Scale is based on 15 questions, each question score range is 0-10 (0 being poor and 10 being excellent) The survey will be conducted at 24 hours intervals after surgery up to 48 hours total after surgery. The total score range is 0-150, where a score of 0 would be the worst possible score, and 150 would be the best possible score