Recruiting

Observational Study

Sponsor:

University Health Network, Toronto

Code:

NCT04044820

Conditions

Opioid Use

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Standardized Prescription

Study Details

Brief summary:

The aim of this study is to determine if a standardized evidence-based opioid prescription following elective hand and forearm surgery at Toronto Western Hospital (TWH) will decrease the number of unused opioid pills consumed by patients while still maintaining adequate pain control as compared to usual treatment. Currently, no standardized prescription exists at our institution.

Conditions

Opioid Use

Study ID

NCT04044820

Start date

Mar 4, 2019

Status verified date

Jan, 2026

Completion date

Dec 31, 2026

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Dec, 2026

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

1\. Patients presenting to TWH for elective ambulatory hand and forearm surgery

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Chronic opioid treatment, defined as more than 6 tablets of Oxycodone 5 mg per day (or equivalent)
2. Cognitive impairment or any other condition causing inability to use 'as required' medication for pain control
3. Language barrier preventing completion of patient diary
4. Patient refusal

Study Design

Enrollment

292 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Diagnostic

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

active comparator: Standardized Discharge Prescription

Based on a previous study examining mean number of opioid pills used by patients undergoing elective, unilateral hand and forearm surgery

no intervention: Usual Discharge Prescription

Routine standard of care involves prescription for opioids at the discretion of the surgical team

Interventions

Standardized Prescription

Oxycodone 5mg PO q4-6h PRN

If patient has allergy or other contraindications

Hydromorphone 1mg PO q4-6h PRN/ Tylenol #3 1-2 tablets PO q4h PRN

The number of tablets prescribed will depend on the extent of surgical trauma

  • 0-5 pills for simple surgeries such as a trigger finger release
  • 10 pills for carpal tunnel or Dupuytren's contracture releases
  • 15 pills for a ganglion cyst excision or simple tendon transfer
  • 20 pills for more complex procedures such as distal forearm ORIF or a wrist fusion.

Primary outcome measure

  • Impact of Standardized prescription on quality of analgesia after hand and forearm surgery [ Time Frame: Twelve weeks after intervention ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Anuj Bhatia, MD FRCPC

(416) 603 5800anuj.bhatia@uhn.ca

Locations

Toronto Western Hospital

Recruiting

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5T2S8

Contacts

Anuj Bhatia, MD FRCPC

(416) 603 5800anuj.bhatia@uhn.ca

Danielle Alvares

(416) 603 5800danielle.alvares@uhn.ca

More Information

Sponsor

University Health Network, Toronto

Last update posted

Jan 16, 2026

Last verified

Jan, 2026

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University Health Network, Toronto on 2026-01-16.