NCT04277988

Effect of Crossed Legged Position on Ultrasound Measured Posterior Longitudinal Ligament Length in Parturients.

A Comparison of the Ultrasound Measured Posterior Longitudinal Ligament Length in Parturients in the Standard Sitting and Crossed Leg Positions: an Observational Study

• Status: Completed
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 30 (actual)
• Sponsor: London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute OR Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 18 Years – 40 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

To investigate if sitting in flexed cross legged position for neuraxial techniques in term pregnant patients widens the size of the ultrasound acoustic window as measured by the visualized posterior longitudinal ligament length, during lumbar spine ultrasonography using longitudinal paramedian view, in comparison to the standard sitting flexed position.

Detailed description

This is a prospective observational study involving a total of 30 healthy term gestation pregnant patients with singleton fetuses.Patients will be randomly allocated to sit crossed leg or in standard position first. Using ultrasonography, the acoustic window for lumbar spinal anesthesia at L3-4 will be evaluated in both traditional sitting and crossed leg positions. Ultrasonography will be performed sequentially to measure the best visualized length of posterior longitudinal ligament,ligamentum flavum and interlaminar distance in the paramedian view.The scanned image will be saved to be remeasured by a third observer. Patients will be asked to score their comfort level while sitting in both positions.

Conditions

• Pregnancy

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Ultrasonography	Length of Posterior Longitudianl Ligament, Ligamentum Flavum and Interlaminar distance visible in paramedian longitudinal view during lumbar spine ultrasonography in cross legged position will be compared to standard sitting position.

Timeline

• Start date: 2016-03-01
• Primary completion: 2016-08-01
• Completion: 2016-12-01
• First posted: 2020-02-20
• Last updated: 2020-02-20