Preclinical safety and feasibility of a bupivacaine-loaded hydrogel for pain relief after spinal surgery.

Pain and side effects of analgesics hinder postoperative recovery after instrumented spine surgery. Current locoregional blocks and sustained-release formulations are limited by rapid systemic absorption. We evaluated the local and systemic safety of a bupivacaine-loaded hydrogel, co-implanted with pedicle screws, in a sheep spine surgery model.

Testing a new sustained-release local anesthetic formulation specifically designed for spine surgery in a sheep model.

Instrumented spinal surgery is a frequently performed and painful intervention, with severe pain often lasting for three days. Opioids are the cornerstone of treatment of postoperative pain, but can induce severe side effects, dependence, and addiction. Novel local anesthetic applications, such as erector spinae plane blocks, and sustained release formulations have the potential to decrease opioid consumption without analgesic compromise but have limited efficacy beyond 24 h.