Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (27): 7182-7188.doi: 10.12307/2026.321

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Local administration of liposomal bupivacaine reduces postoperative pain and complications in spinal surgery: a meta-analysis

Nong Jiahong1, 2, Shi Dayang2, 3, Jin Jiacheng2, 4, Li Zhuhai2, Wei Minke2, Wei Jianxun2   

  1. 1Graduate School of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise 533000, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China; 2Department of Spine Surgery, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region People’s Hospital · Guangxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanning 530000, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China; 3Graduate School, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530000, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China; 4Graduate School, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530000, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
  • Received:2025-04-12 Accepted:2025-08-24 Online:2026-09-28 Published:2026-05-25
  • Contact: Wei Jianxun, MS, Chief physician, Master’s supervisor, Department of Spine Surgery, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region People’s Hospital · Guangxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanning 530000, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
  • About author:Nong Jiahong, Master candidate, Graduate School of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise 533000, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China; Department of Spine Surgery, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region People’s Hospital · Guangxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanning 530000, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
  • Supported by:
    Guangxi Natural Science Foundation (Youth Fund), No. 2024GXNSFBA010270; Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Health Commission Self-raised Fund Research Project, No. Z20210722 (all to LZH); Guangxi Medical and Health Appropriate Technology Development and Promotion Application Project, No. S2023024, S2018026 (to WJX)

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to assess whether the local application of liposomal bupivacaine in spinal surgery effectively reduces postoperative pain, opioid consumption, and the incidence of related complications.
METHODS: The study was conducted strictly in accordance to the methodological guidelines proposed by Cochrane Handbook. The protocol of the present work was registered with PROSPERO. Two researchers independently conducted literature searches in electronic databases including CNKI, WanFang Data, VIP, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar, collecting eligible trials published between January 2015 and December 2024, followed by systematic data collection and organization. The risk of bias or the quality of each included study was evaluated by two assessors. Data were analyzed using STATA software.
RESULTS: (1) 13 studies involving 2 962 patients were included in the present work. The risk of bias of randomized controlled trials were rated as low to moderate, while the quality of the included cohort studies was allocated to high. (2) The results of this study revealed that total opioid consumption in the liposomal bupivacaine group was significantly lower than that in the control group [SMD=-0.36, 95% CI (-0.71, -0.02)]. However, the sensitivity analysis indicated that the robustness of this result was low. (3) Furthermore, the pain scores, opioid consumption and treatment-related complication rates at each follow-up point in the liposomal bupivacaine group were not significantly different from those in the control group (P > 0.05).
CONCLUSION: Local administration of liposomal bupivacaine in spinal surgery did not increase the risk of treatment-related complications and effectively reduced total opioid consumption. However, no enough evidence supported that liposomal bupivacaine could significantly improve pain intensity during the spinal surgery. 

Key words: ">liposomal bupivacaine, spinal surgery, opioids, postoperative pain, complication, perioperative pain management

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