NCT06067893

Low Dose Dexmedetomidine as a Postoperative Pain Adjunct

Dexmedetomidine as a Pain Management Adjunct in the Pediatric Population Undergoing Posterior Spinal Fusion

• Status: Enrolling By Invitation
• Phase: Phase 4
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 160 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Nichole Doyle · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 10 Years – 21 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This randomized controlled trial examines whether the addition of a low-dose dexmedetomidine infusion to our current multimodal pain management plan decreases narcotic consumption and reduces side effects in adolescent patients undergoing posterior spinal fusion for idiopathic scoliosis.

Detailed description

Patients will assigned to one of two groups. Either the intervention group where they will receive a dexmedetomidine infusion at 0.2mcg/kg/hr for 24 hours post-operatively or the control group where they will receive a normal saline infusion for 24 hours post-operatively in addition to our hospitals standard pain management protocol. Pain scores will be recorded and patients will fill out a brief questionnaire on POD 1 about their pain control and side effects (pruritus, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness).

Conditions

• Spinal Fusion
• Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	Dexmedetomidine	Patient receives dexmedetomidine for 48 hours post-operatively
DRUG	Normal Saline	Patient receives normal saline for 48 hours post-operatively

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-07-01
• Primary completion: 2026-07-01
• Completion: 2026-07-01
• First posted: 2023-10-05
• Last updated: 2025-12-22

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States

Regulatory

• FDA-regulated drug study