Height-based versus conventional spinal anesthetic dosing for older adults having lower-limb surgery
Official title: COMPARISON OF HEMODYNAMIC AND ANAESTHETIC OUTCOMES BETWEEN HEIGHT-BASED AND CONVENTIONAL SPINAL ANAESTHETIC DOSING IN GERIATRIC PATIENTS UNDERGOING LOWER LIMB ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERIES
Run by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Institue of Trauma · NCT07363941 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial tests if using a height-based spinal anesthesia dose instead of a fixed dose reduces low blood pressure and improves block timing in people aged 60–80 having elective lower-limb orthopedic surgery.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 60 Years to 80 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 104 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Institue of Trauma Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Karachi, Sindh) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | January 3, 2026 |
| Main results expected | May 3, 2026 |
| Study ends | May 4, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | January 23, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07363941 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal participants are adults aged 60–80 with ASA I–III status scheduled for elective lower-limb orthopedic surgery who will receive spinal anesthesia, are at least 150 cm tall, are not on antihypertensive or beta-blocker therapy, and can provide informed consent.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients under 150 cm tall, those taking antihypertensive agents or beta blockers, people with significant neurological disease, sepsis, coagulopathy, or those requiring emergency procedures are excluded and unlikely to benefit from the study approach.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This single-center, randomized interventional trial will enroll patients aged 60–80 scheduled for elective lower-limb orthopedic procedures and randomly assign them to either height-based spinal dosing or a conventional fixed spinal dose with concealed allocation using SNOSE. Investigators will record baseline demographics, measure supine height precisely, and monitor intraoperative hemodynamics including hypotension and bradycardia as primary safety outcomes. Secondary outcomes include onset and duration of sensory and motor block and other anesthetic characteristics. Data will be collected on standardized forms after institutional ethics approval and informed consent.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could reduce intraoperative hypotension and bradycardia and produce more predictable anesthesia, potentially lowering complication rates and improving recovery.
How similar studies have gone: Similar height- or weight-adjusted spinal dosing approaches have shown mixed but promising results in reducing excessive block height and hypotension in older adults, though large definitive trials are limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Individuals aged 60 to 80 years. Either gender (male or female). Patients who are ASA physical status I-III. Individuals scheduled to undergo elective lower limb orthopaedic surgeries (e.g., fracture fixation, total knee replacement, open reduction and internal fixation). Patients planned to receive spinal anaesthesia as the primary anaesthetic technique. Those who provide informed written consent for participation in the study. Exclusion Criteria: Individuals exhibiting a stature inferior to 150 cm. Patients receiving anti-hypertensive drugs or those on beta blockers or beta-agonists. Patients with a history of neurological disease like CVA or Parkinsonism. Patients presenting with sepsis (≥ 2 positive SIRS criteria with positive aseptically obtained blood or wound culture). Patients with a history of coagulation disorders like haemophilia or vWD or those with a history of anti-platelet drug intake in the last 2 weeks. Individuals possessing a documented history of hypersensitivity reactions to pharmacological agents utilized in the research. Patients who will be diagnosed with a skin infection at the spinal needle puncture site. Patients undergoing emergency orthopaedic procedures requiring immediate intervention
Where it's running
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Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Institue of Trauma
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan Recruiting
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.