A Phase 3 interventional study of Methadone based ERAS and Non-methadone based group in Idiopathic Scoliosis, sponsored by Senthil Sadhasivam. Recruiting at 2 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 10 Years to 18 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-05-05.
Sponsored by Senthil Sadhasivam · Phase 3, Interventional, and Treatment
The multicenter PRECISE Analgesia (Prospective Randomized Evaluation of Analgesia for Idiopathic Scoliosis Spine Fusion Elective Surgery in Children) trials will a) implement and investigate the efficacy and safety of multidose methadone-based standardized enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol, and b) develop personalized ERAS protocols including precision methadone and oxycodone dosing and c) personalized analgesia for the safe and effective opioid-sparing management of surgical pain after posterior spine fusion (PSF) in children.
SPECIFIC AIMS. The multicenter PRECISE Analgesia (Prospective Randomized Evaluation of Analgesia for Idiopathic Scoliosis Spine Fusion Elective Surgery in Children) trials will a) implement and investigate the efficacy and safety of multidose methadone-based standardized enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol, and b) develop personalized ERAS protocols including precision methadone and oxycodone dosing, and c) personalized analgesia for the safe and effective opioid-sparing management of surgical pain after posterior spine fusion (PSF) in children.
The long-term goal is to proactively improve the safety and efficacy of surgical pain control while reducing opioid AEs and the opioid epidemic burden in all children undergoing inpatient surgeries. The central hypothesis is that a standardized, multidose, methadone-based ERAS protocol will reduce acute surgical pain, overall opioid use, RD, PONV, and CPSP compared with standard-of-care short-acting opioid-based analgesia in children undergoing PSF (Aim 1). Investigators will use PK and genetic variations along with clinical factors to develop optimal intra- and post-operative methadone dosing in children to enable precision analgesia in the future (Aim 2). Finally, Investigators will identify patient profiles with genetic, epigenetic, PK, clinical, and psychological factors to predict benefit from assigned analgesia for optimal clinical outcomes (Aim 3). The expert multidisciplinary and multicenter team will enroll a total of 1000 children to conduct a randomized clinical trial for PSF (500 children 10-\<18 yrs from 4 clinical sites). In this study, specifically, Investigators will:
Aim 1. Conduct a randomized clinical trial in PSF to compare acute pain relief, opioid-sparing efficacy, and safety of standardized perioperative multidose methadone-based ERAS vs. standard-of-care non-methadone-based analgesia. Acute surgical pain, opioid needs (morphine equivalents), RD, PONV, and CPSP will be lower in methadone-based analgesia compared to short-acting opioid-based analgesia.
Aim 2. Develop precision methadone dosing based on age, CYP2B6 and ORM1 variants, and AAG. Age, CYP2B6 and ORM1 variants, AAG levels, and will explain methadone's PK variability and dose adjustments that correlate with optimal clinical outcomes among 500 children receiving methadone.
Aim 3. Identify patient profiles that predict benefits from the assigned analgesia protocol to optimize clinical outcomes. Personalized risk prediction models will be developed and validated including genetic variants (i.e., CYP2B6, CYP2D6, ABCB1, OPRM1, and FAAH), and psychological and clinical factors to predict benefit with the assigned treatments (methadone or non-methadone) for pre-specified clinical endpoints (i.e., lower acute surgical pain, RD, PONV, OD, and CPSP) in PSF.
Overall Impact: Develop actionable evidence for the efficacy of standardized, multidose, methadone-based ERAS protocols and will harness genetic, clinical, and psychological factors contributing to variability in methadone and oxycodone PK, acute surgical pain, transition to CPSP, opioid-induced PONV, RD, and dependence to develop personalized analgesia strategy and dosing for children undergoing PSF. Implementation of evidence-based standardized methadone-based ERAS pain management and individualized risk prediction will maximize acute surgical pain relief while minimizing opioid use and AEs in millions of children.
Exclusion Criteria:
The methadone-based standardized analgesia intervention arm will include standardized perioperative care and analgesia, including intraoperative intravenous methadone (1st dose: 0.1 mg/kg up to a maximum of 5 mg before incision; 2nd dose: 0.1 mg/kg up to a maximum of 5 mg administered 4 hours after the 1st dose) and postoperatively, up to 4 additional IV or oral doses of methadone (0.1 mg/kg up to a maximum of 5 mg) every 12 hours before discharge as part of standardized multimodal analgesia in the hospital setting.
Drug: Methadone based ERAS
The comparator standard-of-care non-methadone-based analgesia arm will include standard opioid analgesia protocol without intra- and post-operative methadone per the current site standards.
Drug: Non-methadone based group
Methadone intervention includes intraoperative intravenous methadone (1st dose: 0.1 mg/kg up to a maximum of 5 mg before incision; 2nd dose: 0.1 mg/kg up to a maximum of 5 mg administered 4 hours after the 1st dose) and postoperatively, up to 4 additional IV or oral doses of methadone (0.1 mg/kg up to a maximum of 5 mg) every 12 hours before discharge as part of standardized multimodal analgesia in the hospital setting.
Also known as: Methadone Based
Non-methadone intervention includes standard opioid analgesia protocol without intra- and post-operative methadone per the current site standards. Postoperative pain medication is recommended when reported pain level is considered moderate or higher (≥4 on NRS and FLACC).
Also known as: Non-methadone
Average postoperative pain scores
Average postoperative pain scores at 48-hours timepoint using 0-10, Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), in which 0=no pain at all and 10=worst pain imaginable. Outcome will be reported based on area under the curve (AUC) as mean(SD).
Time frame: Postoperative 48 hours
Total postoperative opioid use
Number of opioids used in hospital, will be reported as mean (SD).
Time frame: Postoperative 48 hours
Incidence of inpatient respiratory depression (RD)
RD is defined as persistent oxygen desaturation (SpO2) \<90% on room air or respiratory rate \<8 breaths per minute requiring oxygen in the absence of airway obstruction. Outcome will be reported as n(%).
Time frame: Postoperative 120-hours
Incidence of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting (PONV)
PONV will be assessed by self-report, EMR, and medication use. Outcome will be reported as n(%).
Time frame: Postoperative 120-hours
Incidence of Inpatient Sedation
Sedation will be assessed using the Ramsay Sedation Scale (RSS) and validated sedation scales extracted from the EMR. Outcome will be reported as n(%).
Time frame: Postoperative 120-hours
QTc Prolongation
QTc prolongation is defined as \>460 msec based on 12-lead or 15-lead EKG. Outcome will be reported as n(%).
Time frame: Postoperative 48-hours
Length of Hospital Stay (LOS)
LOS will be measured in days until hospital discharge. Outcome will be reported as mean (SD).
Time frame: Up to 30 days
Persistent opioid use
Based on Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) and self-report data. Outcome will be reported as n(%).
Time frame: 1-week, 1-month, and 3-months post-surgery
Presence of Chronic Postsurgical Pain (CPSP) at 3-months
CPSP incidence will be defined using NRS pain \>3/10 and functional limitations based on Functional Disability Index (FDI). NRS Pain scale is 0=no pain at all and 10=worst pain imaginable. Outcome will be reported as n(%).
Time frame: 3-months post-surgery
Presence of Opioid Dependence (OD) at 3-months
OD will be assessed using PROMIS and Prescription Pain Medication Misuse (PPMM) scales. Outcome will be reported as n(%).
Time frame: 3-months post-surgery
Plan to share: Yes — Identifiable data and specimens will be shared with the sponsor of the study. The investigators and study team will comply with all the NIH's Public Access and Data Sharing requirements including Release of Publications and Sharing of Underlying Primary Data. Release of Publications: The investigators will publish their results in open access journals for broad and free availability immediately without any embargo period. Electronic copies of publications will be deposited within four weeks of acceptance by a journal in PubMed Central with proper metadata to be made discoverable and accessible upon publication.
Supporting information: Study protocol, Sap
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Senthil Sadhasivam