Buprenorphine Transdermal Patches in Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair

Traditionally, oral opioids have been used to manage the postoperative pain of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) . Due to the intensity of pain, it often requires high doses of opioids, frequently associated with side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, disorientation, among others, which, in the context of an outpatient, interfere with the postoperative period, sometimes resulting in hospital readmissions. due to both the poor management of pain and the adverse effects of opioids.

Although there are invasive strategies of analgesia, such as the placement of continuous infusion catheters of analgesics in the sub-acromial space, these are methods that demand the management of the devices, in some cases requiring prolongation of hospitalization for the patient. management of the same, without being exempt from complications as any analgesic method added to those related to the method.

Currently, the post-operative analgesia strategy widely accepted globally and that used in our center, is multimodal analgesia, in which NSAIDs (Anti-Inflammatory Non-Steroids) and oral opioids are associated. A combination of both analgesic mechanisms of action is used as a basic scheme, and rescues with opioids are carried out orally. Although the literature supports its cost-benefit, this approach is often insufficient, not achieving adequate control of postoperative pain in ARCR, with 64% of our patients reporting poor pain management in the first week of post-operative and 10% that require re-entry to day hospital for pain management.

The application of transdermal opioid release patches is a method of non-invasive analgesia, which has previously been used with good results for the management of postoperative pain. In ARCR there is no evidence of its use in the management of post-operative pain The main advantages could be related to the plasma stability of the drug (buprenorphine), which implies fewer peaks and valleys of analgesia, a better compliance by the patient since it is of weekly duration and lower incidence of cognitive deterioration related to other opioids.

Compared with other opioids, buprenorphine is associated with a lower risk of abuse, overdose and poisoning due to the ceiling effect. Despite this favorable pharmacological profile, the use of buprenorphine in patches has a lower abuse rate than other forms of administering the same drug. On the one hand, the release rate of the patch may be insufficient to satisfy the compulsive desire and, to that end, the patch may be less desirable. On the other hand, the availability in the market and the way to use the patches could be other conditioning factors.

• Buprenorphine (Drug), also known as Buprenorphine Patch: Buprenorphine 10mg transdermal patch used during the first five postoperative days after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair
• Placebo Patch (Drug): Adhesive patch with the same macroscopic characteristics to the buprenorphine patch, without drugs.
• Multimodal Oral Scheme (Drug): Diclofenac 75mg c 12h Tramadol 50mg c 12h. Rescues with tramadol 50 mg (maximum rescue dose 150mg, minimum frequency between rescues 4hs)
• Tramadol (Drug), also known as Tramadol Tablet: Tramadol 50mg tablet that the patient consumes every 8 hours during the first five days
• Placebo Tablet (Drug): Placebo tablet that the patient consumes every 8 hours during the first five days

Primary outcomes

• Pain perception [Five days]: subjective perception of pain through the use of an analogous visual scale

Secondary outcomes

• Consumption of rescue opiods [Five Days]: consumption of rescue opiods
• Hours of sleep [5 days]: hours of sleep
• Perception of Sickness [5 days]: presence or not of nausea
• Readmissions rate [5 days]: record of hospital readmissions for pain or complications related to the use of buprenorphine patches
• Misuse or abuse of opioids rate [Fourth month post operatory]: Behaviors of misuse or abuse of opioids after the immediate postoperative period

Sex: All, ages: 18 Years to any, accepts healthy volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

* Patient diagnosed with rotator cuff injury, regardless of the type of injury.
* Patient undergoing Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Refusal to participate or inability to understand the informed consent process.
2. Inability to understand subjective scales of pain
3. Regular use of narcotics
4. Allergy or intolerance to drugs used in the protocol
5. Consumption of drugs that interact with Buprenorphine (anticholinergics, Atropine, Belladonna, Benztropine, Dicyclomine, Diphenhydramine, Isopropamide, Procyclidine and Scopolamine, Antiarrhythmics, Amiodarone, Disopyramide, Dofetilide, Procainamide, Quinidine and Sotalol.

   Anticonvulsants; Carbamazepine, Phenobarbital, Phenytoin and Rifampin)
6. History of previous surgeries in shoulder treated with RAMR
7. Previous neuromuscular deficit
8. Febrile Syndrome
9. Autoimmune or Rheumatologic Disease
10. History of intestinal transit disorders (paralytic ileus)
11. History of alcohol or drug abuse
12. Patients in psychological or psychiatric treatment for anxiety disorders, personality disorders, mood disorders.