Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT05996133

Multifidus Cervicis Plane Block Vs. Sham Block For Posterior Cervical Spine Fusion Surgery

The goal of this randomized, double-blinded, clinical trial is to assess the benefit of administering a Multifidus Cervicis Plane (MCP) block compared to a sham block as a method of postoperative pain control in patients undergoing posterior cervical spine fusion surgery. The main question it aims to answer is if the MCP block group will have reduced maximum pain scores during the first 24 postoperative hours compared to the sham block group.

Participants will receive preoperative bilateral MCP blocks on the back of their neck using the standard of care local anesthetic solution that consists of 30 mLs 0.25% Bupivacaine + 0.5 mL (5 mg) preservative-free Dexamethasone + 0.1 mL Epinephrine (MCP block group). Researchers will compare the MCP block to the preoperative sham block which consists of injecting 3 mL of normal saline into the same area (Sham block group) to compare the postoperative pain scores between the groups as a main objective. The secondary objectives are:

* Postoperative opioid consumption during hospitalization and at 2 weeks after discharge. * The amount and type of non-opioid analgesics used during hospitalization. * The occurrence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and the use of antiemetics. * Hospital and Post Anesthesia Care Unit length of stay (LOS). * Monitor the safety of the study interventions during hospitalization and readmissions within 30 days of discharge. * Patient satisfaction with pain management and overall satisfaction with the surgery experience.

Recruiting

Interested in participating?

Request Info

Key information

Conditions

Cervical Spine Fusion Bone Diseases Bone Diseases, Developmental Congenital Abnormalities Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities Dysostoses Klippel-Feil Syndrome Musculoskeletal Abnormalities Musculoskeletal Diseases

Age range

40 year–80 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 4

Primary location

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients 40-80 years old, males and females, of any race and any ethnic group.
  • Patients are scheduled for elective primary posterior cervical spine fusion surgery (CSFS) to be performed by one of the spine surgeons in the study.
  • Ability to speak and read English
  • Patients with American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) physical status score I- IV

Exclusion criteria

  • Emergency posterior CSFS.
  • Revision surgery or history of previous cervical spine surgery
  • History of allergy to local anesthetics or steroids.
  • Patients who are coagulopathic at the time of surgery
  • Patients with contraindications to MCP blocks, including but not limited to anatomical abnormality or previous surgical intervention that limits or prevents receiving the blocks
  • Infection at the site of the block.
  • Weight < 40 kg to avoid local anesthetic toxicity.
  • Patients on chronic or continuous opioid use of > 50 MME (morphine milli-equivalent) per day for at least 30 days within 90 days prior to surgery.
  • Patients with a history of chronic inflammatory conditions such as multiple sclerosis
  • Refusal to participate or lack of providing the study consent

Treatment and study plan

Bupivacaine Hcl 0.25% Inj

Drug

30 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine + 0.5 mL (5 mg) preservative-free dexamethasone + 0.1 mL epinephrine 1:400,000.

Other names: Dexamethasone, Epinephrine

Normal Saline

Other

3 mL normal saline

Primary outcomes

  1. The maximum postoperative pain score

    Time frame: Up to 24 hours after surgery

    The maximum pain score for the past 24 postoperative hours, on a scale from 0-10 where 0 is no pain and 10 is severe pain reported by participants using the validated tool; Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form.

Secondary outcomes

  1. The maximum, average, minimum, and current pain scores

    Time frame: 0-24 hours; 24-48 hours; 48-72 hours and at 2 weeks (+/- 7 days) after discharge via a phone call.

    The maximum, average, minimum, and current pain scores for the past 24 hours, on a scale from 0-10 where 0 is no pain and 10 is severe pain, reported by participants daily and up to 72 postoperative hours and at 2 weeks after discharge using the validated tool; Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form.

  2. Total opioid consumption

    Time frame: at 6th, 12th, 24th, 48th, and 72nd postoperative hours, and at 2 weeks (+/- 7 days) after discharge.

    The total intraoperative and postoperative opioid consumption will be measured in morphine MilliEquivalent (MME) during hospitalization on the 6th, 12th, 24th, 48th, and 72nd postoperative hours, and at 2 weeks (+/- 7 days) after discharge via a phone call using a question asking if the patient is still using opioids (yes/no)

  3. Non- opioid analgesics use

    Time frame: Up to 72 hours postoperative

    The number of non-opioid analgesics used (frequency), including NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, and gabapentin at any time throughout hospitalization up to 72 hours postoperatively.

  4. Postoperative nausea/vomiting scores

    Time frame: Daily at 24th, 48th, and 72th postoperative hours

    Postoperative nausea/vomiting scores will be collected using the Simplified Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting Impact Scale, a validated measure that consists of two questions, each with a possible response score of 0-3. Response score totals of 0-2 require no intervention. Response score totals of 3-4 may necessitate antiemetic medication. Response score totals of 5-6 are considered clinically important nausea requiring medication intervention, as this would constitute patients with excessive vomiting.

  5. Hospital and Post Anesthesia Care Unit length of stay

    Time frame: Up to 72 postoperative hours

    Hospital and PACU length of stay will be calculated in hours from the date and time of admission and discharge from the electronic medical records.

  6. The occurrence of block complications

    Time frame: Up to 72 postoperative hours

    The occurrence of block complications will be collected during hospitalization will be assessed daily for up to the discharge from the hospital.

  7. Participant satisfaction with the pain management service and the overall surgery experience

    Time frame: at 72nd postoperative hour and at 2 weeks (+/- 7 days) after discharge via a phone call

    Using the Customer Satisfaction Score (CSAT) tool, prior to discharge and at 2 weeks (+/- 7 days) after discharge via a phone call by the ARC. By asking participants to rate their satisfaction with pain management service and the overall surgery experience on a five-point scale: 1- very unsatisfied; 2- Unsatisfied; 3- Neutral; 4- Satisfied; and 5- Very satisfied. The metric will be looking specifically at the percentage of happy patients. The CSAT percentage score is calculated by looking at the 4 to 5 ratings. The formula is: (The total Number of 4 and 5 responses) ÷ (Number of total responses) x 100 = % of satisfied patients, a score of 80% will be considered 'good'.

  8. Antiemetics used

    Time frame: up to 72 postoperative hours

    The number of doses (frequency) of intra and postoperative antiemetics will be collected up to 72 postop hours.

Study contacts

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

Aseel Walker, MD

CONTACT

[email protected]

(860) 972-1778

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Hartford Hospital

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Comparing Multifidus Cervicis Plane Block Vs. Sham Block, In Reducing Postoperative Pain And Opioid Consumption In Patients Undergoing Elective Primary Posterior Cervical Spine Fusion Surgery

Acronym: MCP

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2027
First posted
Aug 16, 2023
Registry last updated
Sep 5, 2025

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.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.