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NCT Number: NCT06745453

Erector Spinae Plane Block for Acute Back Pain in the Emergency Department

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if an erector spinae plane block (ESPB; a type of nerve block) works to reduce pain in adults presenting to the emergency department with low back pain. It will also learn if the ESPB reduces pain, disability, and return to work at 7 days. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. Does the ESPB reduce short-term pain in participants with low back pain? 2. Does the ESPB reduce longer-term pain, reduce disability, and improve return to work and activities in participants with low back pain?

Researchers will compare ESPB to a placebo (an injection that does not involve a nerve block) to see if ESPB works to treat low back pain.

Participants will:

Receive either the ESPB or a placebo injection in the emergency department Report their pain scores for up to 120 minutes Report their pain, disability, and return to work at 7 days

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Key information

Conditions

Low Back Pain Back Pain Disease Attributes Emergencies Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Adults (age ≥18 years) presenting to the emergency department with isolated low back pain present less than 6 total weeks.

Exclusion criteria

  • Do not speak English or Spanish as a primary language
  • Are incarcerated
  • Have a known pregnancy
  • Are allergic to amide-type local anesthetics
  • Are unable to tolerate positioning for the procedure
  • Have a critical illness precluding the ability to perform the procedure.

Treatment and study plan

Erector Spinae Plane Block

Procedure

Erector Spinae Plane Block

Sham Procedure

Procedure

Sham Procedure

Primary outcomes

  1. Pain score at 120 minutes post-intervention as assessed using a 10-point numeric rating scale

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 120 minutes post-intervention

    Zero is equivalent to no pain and 10 indicates worst pain imaginable

Secondary outcomes

  1. Pain score at 30 minutes post-intervention as assessed using a 10-point numeric rating scale

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 30 minutes post-intervention

    Zero is equivalent to no pain and 10 indicates worst pain imaginable

  2. Pain score at 60 minutes post-intervention as assessed using a 10-point numeric rating scale

    Time frame: Change from baseline to 60 minutes post-intervention

    Zero is equivalent to no pain and 10 indicates worst pain imaginable

  3. Degree of disability assessed via the Roland-Morris disability questionnaire at 7 days

    Time frame: Assessed as the change in Roland-Morris disability questionnaire scores between baseline and 7 day follow up

    Participants will be scored using the validated Roland-Morris disability questionnaire.

  4. Pain score at 7 days post-intervention as assessed using a 10-point numeric rating scale

    Time frame: Pain score assessed at 7 days post-intervention

    Zero is equivalent to no pain and 10 indicates worst pain imaginable

  5. Opioid medications taken in the 7 days following the intervention

    Time frame: Measured at 7 days post-intervention

    Calculated in morphine milligram equivalents

  6. Follow up visits related to low back pain in the 7 days following the intervention

    Time frame: Assessed at 7 days

    Based upon patient self-report

  7. Return to work and activities assessed via the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire: General Health version 2.0

    Time frame: Assessed at 7 days

    Assessed using the validated Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire: General Health version 2.0 questionnaire

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Aylin Ornelas Loredo, MMS

CONTACT

[email protected]

312-563-0645

Michelle Santangelo, MS

CONTACT

[email protected]

312-563-0645

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Rush University Medical Center

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Dec 20, 2024
Registry last updated
Mar 12, 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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