title: Chondrotoxicity of Liposomal Bupivacaine in Articular Chondrocytes: Preliminary Findings.
abstract: The chondrotoxicity of local anesthetics has been previously recognized. Recent introduction of a liposomal formulation of bupivacaine has been found to significantly improve postoperative pain control but its effect on chondrocyte viability has yet to be investigated with this new formulation. We sought to assess the in vitro chondrotoxicity of liposomal bupivacaine.
  
  
  
  Chondrocytes were isolated from articular cartilage from fresh stifle joints and grown in culture medium. Cultured chondrocyte-derived cells (CDCs) were treated with 0.9% normal saline solution, 0.5%, 0.25%, and 0.13% bupivacaine and ropivacaine, 1.3% liposomal bupivacaine for 1 hour. Following treatment, cells were washed and incubated in media for 23 hours. The CDCs were then harvested and viability was assessed by flow cytometry using SYTOX green dead cell stain.
  
  
  
  Treated CDCs demonstrated a dose-response effect for chondrocyte viability when treated with bupivacaine, ropivacaine, and liposomal bupivacaine. Liposomal bupivacaine demonstrated the highest chondrocyte viability following treatment. Ropivacaine demonstrated higher chondrocyte viability than bupivacaine.
  
  
  
  Following 1 hour of treatment, liposomal bupivacaine demonstrated the highest chondrocyte viability. Chondrocyte viability was inversely proportional to anesthetic concentration.
authors.affiliation: Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, 300 E Hospital Road, Fort Gordon, GA 30905.
authors.forename: K Aaron
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.affiliation: Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, 300 E Hospital Road, Fort Gordon, GA 30905.
authors.forename: Peter C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Department of Clinical Investigations, 300 E Hospital Road, Fort Gordon, GA 30905.
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zumbrun
authors.affiliation: Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Department of Clinical Investigations, 300 E Hospital Road, Fort Gordon, GA 30905.
authors.forename: Augustine H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.affiliation: Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, 300 E Hospital Road, Fort Gordon, GA 30905.
authors.forename: Craig D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Cameron
mesh_terms: D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000633:toxicity*; D002356:Cartilage / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology; D002417:Cattle; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects*; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002045:Bupivacaine