Erector Spinae Plane Blocks (ESP) for Postoperative Pain in Lumbo-sacral Spine Surgery

The goal of this study is to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of bilateral erector spinae plane (ESP) blocks after lumbar and lumbo-sacral spine surgery by assessing postoperative pain scores and opiate requirements as the primary outcome measures. We are aiming to investigate how ESP blocks, performed under ultrasound guidance at the T12 vertebral level, contribute to postoperative pain control. This will be determined by measuring numerical rating pain scores repeatedly following surgery and opiate consumption until patient discharge from hospital. These primary outcome measures will be compared between a treatment group of participants, who will receive ESP blocks and a control group who will receive a sham block. Our primary hypothesis is that ESP blocks significantly reduce postoperative pain and opiate requirements

Why the study stopped: No participants enrolled.

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Key information

Conditions

Erector Spinae Plane Block Lumbar Spine Surgery

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of California San Francisco

San Francisco, California, 94143, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Spine surgery at or below the L1 vertebral level
Midline surgical approach

Exclusion criteria

Previous lumbar or lumbo-sacral surgery with or without hardware placement
Evidence of dura pathology (including CSF leak)
Spine tumor
Non-English speaking

Treatment and study plan

Bilateral lumbar erector spinae plane block

Procedure

Bilateral lumbar erector spinae plane blocks performed under ultrasound guidance

Primary outcomes

Postoperative pain scores

Time frame: During hospitalization, typically lasting between 1 and 5 days

Pain scores will be measured and documented as part of routine clinical care using the standard NRS (numerical rating scale, ranging from 0= no pain to 10= worst imaginable pain). Pain assessments will be made several times per day starting pre-operatively and continued during hospitalization.
Perioperative opiate consumption

Time frame: During hospitalization, typically lasting between 1 and 5 days

Peri-operative opiate consumption will be assessed by measuring opiate administration intra- and post-operatively (during hospitalization) and expressed as oral morphine equivalents (OMEs).

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of California, San Francisco

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Bilateral Erector Spinae Plane Blocks (ESP) for Postoperative Pain in Lumbo-sacral Spine Surgery: A Double-blinded Randomized Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start: 2021
Primary completion: 2021
Study completion: 2022
First posted: Jan 18, 2020
Registry last updated: Sep 1, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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Completed