Stopped: Study was not conducted because funding was not obtained.
United States0Started 2022-10
Plain-language summary
The purpose of this study is to determine if Duloxetine provides effective pain management for adult patients (18 or older) undergoing tibial plateau surgery. Participants from two institutions will be randomized to one of two treatment groups: control (Group A) and treatment (Group B). Group A control group will receive placebo of sugar pill and BMC standard of care - namely postoperative, IV administration of opioids via a patient controlled analgesia (PCA) system which utilizes a hydromorphone pump (BMC standard of care). Group B, the intervention group, will receive three doses of 60 mg of oral duloxetine (right before operation, postop day 1, postop day 2).
This study is important as tibial plateau surgery's postoperative pain management primarily involved providing opioids, and if duloxetine can result in reduced narcotic intake and lower pain scores, it can potentially improve patient care, rehabilitation, early movement, and shorter length of hospital stay.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 80 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Tibial plateau fracture that requires operative fixation
* Ambulatory patient prior to fracture
Exclusion Criteria:
* Previous tibial plateau fracture on ipsilateral knee
* History of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in ipsilateral extremity
* History of any demyelinating disorder or neurologic deficit that may contribute to altered pain tolerance/sensation
* Acute or chronic knee infection in ipsilateral extremity
* Previous total knee arthroplasty or knee hemiarthroplasty in ipsilateral knee
* Allergy to morphine (used in the SOC PCA pump)
* Pregnant or breastfeeding as determined by standard of care pre-operative urine pregnancy test
* Polytrauma
* Open fracture
* IV drug user
* Rheumatoid arthritis
* Revision cases
* Non-ambulatory
* Anatomical deformities of the knee
* Hepatic dysfunction or cirrhosis
* Taking Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), tri- or tetra- cyclic anti-depressant
* Renal impairment (mention in patient chart and/or creatinine clearance \<30)
* Moderate to severe depression
* Taking CYP1A2 inhibitors and CYP1A6 inhibitors
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.