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Evaluation of Pain Management After Surgery When Using Exparel in the Pediatric Population
Prospective Evaluation of Post-operative Pain Management Using Exparel in the Pediatric Population
Who can join
Ages 13 to 21 · All sexes
Full eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Must be aged 13+ years at time of surgery * Must present with injury requiring an isolated MPFL Reconstruction * Ability to provide assent, legally appointed representative available to provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Patient \<13 years old * Requires fracture repair or another non-standardized surgery * Any MPFL Reconstruction that requires the use of arthrotomy or a tibial tubercle osteotomy * Any lower extremity procedure that is not an isolated MPFL Reconstruction * Patient pregnancy * Inability to provide assent or legally appointed representative to provide informed consent * Prior history of hypersensitivity to Exparel or any local anesthesia * BMI ≥ 40
About the study
The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to determine if administration of Exparel via local infiltration for medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction procedures in pediatric orthopaedic sports medicine patients provides significant pain relief and decreased narcotic use. The main questions it aims to answer are:
* Does Exparel significantly reduce Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain scores and pain levels up to one week postoperatively? * Does Exparel significantly decrease narcotic use (number of pills taken) up to one week postoperatively?
Researchers will compare the pain outcomes and narcotic use of patients who receive Exparel and Marcaine via local infiltration to those of patients who receive only Marcaine via local infiltration for their MPFL reconstruction surgery. The goal is to understand if there is a significant difference in patient pain outcomes and narcotic use outside the first 24 hours postoperatively.
Participants will:
* receive either Exparel + Marcaine intraoperatively or Marcaine only intraoperatively during their MPFL reconstruction surgery * receive and complete questionnaires at postoperative days 1, 4, and 7 regarding their pain scores, levels, and outcomes, effective pain treatments, overall pain interference, narcotic use (number of pills taken), and overall pain treatment satisfaction * receive and complete secondary outcome measures of functional and psychological outcomes regarding their MPFL reconstruction surgery at postoperative day 1
What is being tested
- Exparel (drug)
Sponsor: Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children · Participants: 100 · Started: Dec 1, 2025
Contact the study team
- Robert Van Pelt, MPH · Phone: 2145597456
- Anna Wilhelmy, MS · Phone: 469-857-2109
Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT06559215
Locations in the U.S.
| Texas | Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, Frisco |
Conditions
From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.