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Enrolling by Invitation

NCT Number: NCT05247255

Quadratus Lumborum Block for Total Hip Arthroplasty

The quadratus lumborum (QL) block is a fascial plane block that has been described to provide analgesia from T7-L3 dermatomes. The investigators aim to evaluate the efficacy of QL blocks in patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Enrolling by Invitation

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Key information

Conditions

Pain, Postoperative Agnosia Nervous System Diseases Neurobehavioral Manifestations Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Perceptual Disorders Postoperative Complications Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Early Phase 1

Primary location

UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica

Santa Monica, California, 90404, United States

About this study

Investigators will enroll subjects planned for primary THA and allocate them into receiving a QL block with either saline or ropivacaine. Primary outcome will be pain scores over the first 48 hours after surgery.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Adult subjects undergoing elective primary total hip arthroplasty

Exclusion criteria

  • patients age < 18,
  • documented allergy to local anesthetic
  • presence of peripheral neuropathy
  • patients with current long term opioid use defined as receiving an opioid on most days in a 90 day period
  • patients with a contraindication to spinal and regional anesthesia such as coagulopathy or infection at the site of the regional technique.

Treatment and study plan

Active Comparator

Drug

QL block with 0.25% ropivacaine

placebo comparator

Drug

QL block with saline

Primary outcomes

  1. Pain score

    Time frame: Up to 48 hrs post op

    Pain scores will be assessed over 48hrs postop using the visual analog score

Secondary outcomes

  1. Opioid usage

    Time frame: Up to 48 hrs post op

    Total morphine-equivalent will be calculated at 0-24hrs and 24-48hrs postop.

  2. Time to first stand

    Time frame: Up to 1 week post surgery

    The period between the end of surgery and the patient's first successful attempt at standing, with or without the assistance of devices (i.e. walker, cane) or staff assistance.

  3. Time to first ambulation

    Time frame: Up to 1 week post surgery

    Time to first ambulation of 50 feet or more, with or without the help of assist devices (i.e. walker, cane) or staff assistance.

  4. Ambulation distance

    Time frame: Up to 1 week post surgery

    This data point will be measured in feet and will be determined by the distance ambulated during the patient's first ambulation attempt after surgery, regardless of the length of ambulation (This distance will be counted regardless of whether the patient reaches the 50 feet requirement to be counted as the "time to first ambulation).

  5. Length of hospital stay

    Time frame: Until discharge from hospital, up to 1 week post surgery

    Number of days in the hospital from postoperative day 0 to discharge

  6. Patient satisfaction

    Time frame: Until day of discharge from the hospital, up to 1 week post surgery

    Patient satisfaction score will be assessed on day of discharge as measured by a 5-point scale with 1 = terrible, 2 = poor, 3 = satisfactory, 4 = good, and 5 = excellent.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of California, Los Angeles

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Quadratus Lumborum (QL) Nerve Block for Patients Undergoing Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA)

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2027
First posted
Feb 18, 2022
Registry last updated
Jun 5, 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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