NCT06528288

Effects of Erector Spinae Plane Block on Postoperative Pain Following Lumbar Fusion Surgery

Opioid Usage and Patient Reported Outcome Comparison Following Erector Spinae Plane Block or Subcutaneous Anesthetic in Spinal Fusion Procedures

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 66 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Massachusetts, Worcester · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine if the method for injecting local anesthesia affects patients' pain and opioid usage after surgery. The investigators will compare subcutaneous anesthesia, injections of anesthesia under the skin, to a method called erector spinae plane block (ESPB). An ESPB injection involves placing local anesthesia along the muscles and bones in the back, using a special type of x-ray called fluoroscopy for guidance. The Investigators will use patient reported outcomes (PROs) and track subjects' opioid usage to find out if there is a difference between ESPB and subcutaneous anesthesia. The investigators hypothesize that patients who get ESPB injections will use less opioids and report less pain after lumbar fusion surgery compared to patients who receive subcutaneous anesthesia injections.

Conditions

• Fusion of Spine, Lumbar Region
• Anesthesia, Local
• Pain, Postoperative
• Opioid Use

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	Erector Spinae Plane Block	The erector spinae plane block (ESPB) is a method for injecting local anesthesia to reduce pain related to a surgical procedure. The anesthesia is theorized to spread along the paraspinal fascia and anesthetize a larger area, resulting in patients reporting less pain and using less opioids postoperatively.
PROCEDURE	Subcutaneous Anesthesia	Subcutaneous anesthesia injection involves placement of local anesthesia under the skin around the surgical incision. This is thought to reduce pain from the incision site postoperatively.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-09-13
• Primary completion: 2027-01-01
• Completion: 2027-07-01
• First posted: 2024-07-30
• Last updated: 2026-03-16

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States