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NCT Number: NCT07370415

mTLIP vs QIPB for Postoperative Analgesia After Lumbar Instrumentation Surgery

Lumbar instrumentation surgery is associated with severe postoperative pain due to extensive tissue dissection and prolonged muscle retraction during the procedure. Inadequate postoperative pain control may result in delayed mobilization, increased cardiopulmonary complications, and prolonged hospital stay. Ultrasound-guided regional analgesia techniques are increasingly used to improve postoperative pain management after lumbar spine surgery. The thoracolumbar interfascial plane (TLIP) block has been shown to provide effective analgesia for lumbar instrumentation surgery, and its modified technique (mTLIP) has been reported to enhance postoperative pain control. The quadro-iliac plane (QIP) block is a newly described fascial plane block with promising results in lumbar spine surgery. This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the postoperative analgesic effectiveness of the modified thoracolumbar interfascial plane block and the quadro-iliac plane block in patients undergoing lumbar instrumentation surgery.

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Key information

Conditions

Pain, Postoperative Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Postoperative Complications Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

About this study

Lumbar instrumentation surgery is commonly associated with moderate-to-severe postoperative pain due to extensive tissue dissection and prolonged muscle retraction. Inadequate pain control may lead to delayed mobilization, increased cardiopulmonary complications, and prolonged hospital stay.

Ultrasound-guided regional analgesia techniques, particularly fascial plane blocks, are increasingly used as part of multimodal analgesia in lumbar spine surgery. The thoracolumbar interfascial plane (TLIP) block is an established technique that provides effective analgesia and has been modified to improve its clinical application, resulting in the modified thoracolumbar interfascial plane (mTLIP) block. Previous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of mTLIP for postoperative analgesia after lumbar instrumentation surgery.

The quadro-iliac plane block (QIPB) is a recently described ultrasound-guided fascial plane block. Early reports suggest that QIPB may provide effective analgesia in lumbar spine procedures; however, comparative evidence with established techniques remains limited.

This prospective randomized controlled trial aims to compare bilateral ultrasound-guided mTLIP and QIPB performed at the end of surgery in patients undergoing elective lumbar instrumentation surgery under general anesthesia, to evaluate whether QIPB can be considered a safe and effective alternative to mTLIP for postoperative analgesia.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Age between 18 and 65 years
  • Classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I-III
  • Scheduled for elective lumbar instrumentation surgery under general anesthesia
  • Provision of written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

  • Use of anticoagulant medications or presence of bleeding diathesis
  • Known allergy or hypersensitivity to local anesthetics or opioid drugs
  • Infection at the planned block site
  • Alcohol or drug dependence
  • Cognitive impairment preventing reliable pain assessment
  • Pregnancy or lactation
  • History of previous lumbar spine surgery
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Renal or hepatic insufficiency

Treatment and study plan

Modified Thoracolumbar Interfascial Plane Block (mTLIP)

Procedure

An ultrasound-guided bilateral fascial plane block in which local anesthetic is injected into the interfascial plane between the longissimus and iliocostalis muscles at the operated lumbar levels. The block is performed under sterile conditions at the end of surgery using 0.25% bupivacaine (20 mL per side; total volume 40 mL).

Quadro-Iliac Plane Block (QIPB):

Procedure

An ultrasound-guided bilateral fascial plane block in which local anesthetic is injected at the point where the quadratus lumborum muscle attaches to the iliac crest, allowing spread between the erector spinae and quadratus lumborum muscles. The block is performed under sterile conditions at the end of surgery using 0.25% bupivacaine (20 mL per side; total volume 40 mL).

Primary outcomes

  1. Postoperative 48-Hour PCA Opioid Consumption

    Time frame: Postoperative 0-8, 8-16, 16-24, 24-48 intervals

    Total amount of opioid delivered by the patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) device during the first 48 hours after surgery, recorded in milligrams (mg).

Secondary outcomes

  1. QoR-15 Recovery Score

    Time frame: Postoperative 24th and 48th hours

    The investigators will use the Turkish version of Quality of Recovery (QoR) / QoR-15 questionairre

    PART A How have you been feeling in the last 24 hours? (0 to 10, where: 0 = none of the time [poor] and 10 = all of the time [excellent])

    Able to breathe easily Been able to enjoy food Feeling rested Have had a good sleep Able to look after personal toilet and hygiene unaided Able to communicate with Getting support from hospital doctors and nurses Able to return to work or usual home activities Feeling comfortable and in control Having a feeling of general well-being

    PART B Have you had any of the following in the last 24 hours? (10 to 0, where: 10 = none of the time [excellent] and 0 = all of the time [poor]) Moderate pain Severe pain Nausea or vomiting Feeling worried or anxious Feeling sad or depressed

  2. Dynamic and static Numeric Rating Scale scores

    Time frame: 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24, and 48 hours postoperatively

    Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) (0-10; 0= no pain, 10 = the most severe pain felt) pain scores at rest or movement at predefined postoperative hours

  3. Total rescue analgesic dose

    Time frame: Postoperative 48 hours

    Despite the use of patient-controlled analgesia (PCA), if the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) score is ≥4 at any time point, 0.5 mg/kg intravenous meperidine will be administered as rescue analgesia.

    Total amount of meperidin during the first 24 and 48 hours after surgery, recorded in milligrams (mg).

  4. Time of first request for rescue analgesia

    Time frame: Postoperative 48 hours

    Despite the use of patient-controlled analgesia (PCA), if the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) score is ≥4 at any time point, 0.5 mg/kg intravenous meperidine will be administered as rescue analgesia.

  5. Length of Hospital Stay

    Time frame: Patients will remain under observation for at least 2 weeks until their postoperative discharge. Follow-up will be completed upon discharge. The length of hospital stay will be recorded.

    Length of hospital stay will be defined as the number of days from the end of surgery to hospital discharge

  6. Block and Opioid-Related Adverse Effects and Complications

    Time frame: Postoperative 48 hours

    Block- and opioid-related adverse effects and complications, including but not limited to local anesthetic toxicity, hematoma, infection, nerve injury, nausea, vomiting, pruritus, sedation, and respiratory depression, will be recorded

Study contacts

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

Merih Yildiz Eglen, MD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+905059340629

Mursel Ekinci, Assoc prof MD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+905067137596

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Bursa City Hospital

Other Gov

Registry information

Official study title

Comparison of Ultrasound-Guided Modified Thoracolumbar Interfascial Plane Block Versus Quadro-Iliac Plane Block for Postoperative Analgesia After Lumbar Instrumentation Surgery

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jan 27, 2026
Registry last updated
Mar 6, 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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