Comparing shoulder field block versus interscalene block for shoulder surgery
Randomized Control Study: The Effectiveness of Field Block (Local Anesthesia) Compared With Interscalene Block in Shoulder Surgery.
NA · Rabin Medical Center · NCT07173894
This will test whether a surgeon‑performed shoulder field block provides similar pain relief but fewer breathing and nerve side effects than an anesthesiologist‑performed interscalene block for adults having shoulder surgery.
Quick facts
| Phase | NA |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 64 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 75 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Rabin Medical Center (other) |
| Locations | 1 site (Petah Tikva, Central District) |
| Trial ID | NCT07173894 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This randomized study will enroll 64 adults undergoing arthroscopic or open shoulder surgery and randomly assign them to either a shoulder field block performed by an orthopedic surgeon or a standard interscalene block performed by an anesthesiologist. The field block targets the suprascapular, axillary, and lateral pectoral nerves and aims to avoid phrenic nerve involvement, while the interscalene block anesthetizes the brachial plexus and may affect diaphragmatic function. Pain intensity over the first 48 hours will be the primary outcome, with secondary measures including patient satisfaction, opioid consumption, length of hospital stay, and complications. Results will compare analgesic effectiveness and complication rates between the two techniques.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults aged 18–75 scheduled for primary arthroscopic or open shoulder surgery without prior shoulder surgery and without contraindications to regional anesthesia.
Not a fit: Patients with prior shoulder surgery or trauma, revision procedures, preexisting neuropathy or myopathy, chronic opioid use, pregnancy, or other contraindications to regional anesthesia are excluded and unlikely to benefit from enrollment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the field block could offer similar postoperative pain control with fewer respiratory and neurologic side effects, expanding options for patients with lung disease or other contraindications to interscalene block.
How similar studies have performed: Cadaveric work and early clinical series suggest shoulder field blocks can provide effective analgesia, but randomized comparisons with interscalene blocks in surgical patients remain limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age between 18 and 75 years * Scheduled for arthroscopic or open shoulder surgery Exclusion Criteria: * Prior surgery or trauma to the shoulder * Revision shoulder surgery * Fibromyalgia * Pregnancy * Contraindications to regional anesthesia (e.g., allergy to local anesthetics, coagulopathy, local site infection) * Preexisting neuropathy or myopathy of the surgical limb * History of chronic opioid use * Cognitive impairment or inability to understand pain scoring systems (e.g., dementia)
Where this trial is running
Petah Tikva, Central District
- Rabin medical center- Hasharon hospital — Petah Tikva, Central District, Israel (RECRUITING)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Feras Qawasmi, MD
- Email: ferasport@yahoo.com
- Phone: +972546149298
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions: Regional Anesthesia Techniques in Shoulder Surgery, Shoulder Surgery, Open Shoulder Surgery, Postoperative Pain, Pain Management, Regional Anesthesia, Interscalene Block