PI decision to close study early

The purpose of this study is to collect information about how patients feel when doctors manage their pain after lumbar spine surgery using a combination of EXPAREL® and bupivacaine injected into the lumbar spine at the end of surgery, compared to the patients that doctors use only EXPAREL® or bupivacaine to manage their pain. This information will help doctors determine which approach works best for patients who will receive surgery in their lumbar spine in the future.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age 18 or older;
2. Primary indication is low back pain, lumbosacral radiculopathy, lumbar disc degeneration, lumbar disc herniation, stenosis, spondylolisthesis, spondylolysis, or deformity requiring surgical intervention;
3. Scheduled to undergo primary, 1 or 2 level, posterior lumbar laminectomy with or without fusion, discectomy with fusion, or fusion at Virtua Memorial Hospital;
4. Willing to provide informed consent, participate in study, and comply with study protocol.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Hypersensitivity or allergy to local anesthetics;
2. Pregnant or contemplating pregnancy prior to surgery;
3. Previous surgery in lumbar spine (i.e. other than microdiscectomy);
4. Prior treatment for alcohol, recreational drug, or opioid abuse;
5. Serious spinal conditions (e.g. spinal cord compression, cauda equina syndrome, spinal infection, spinal tumor, spinal fracture, inflammatory or systemic spinal arthritis);
6. Surgery involving more than 2 vertebral levels;
7. Worker's compensation or personal injury related to lumbar spine (treatment outcomes may be affected by patient's personal interests [21]; could also run into potential issues with reimbursement).
8. Lactating women
9. Patients with end stage liver disease

Publish research findings in relevant peer-reviewed journal