Lumbar nerve block comparison in older adults having spine surgery

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This prospective randomized trial compares two regional anesthesia techniques—lumbar paravertebral block (L-PVB) and lumbar erector spinae plane block (L-ESPB)—in elderly patients undergoing elective lumbar spine surgery, in addition to standardized general anesthesia and multimodal analgesia. The primary outcome is total opioid consumption in the first 48 hours after surgery, measured in intravenous morphine equivalents. Secondary outcomes include postoperative pain scores, intraoperative opioid use, time to mobilization, hospital length of stay, and incidence of opioid-related adverse events. Eligible participants are adults aged 65 or older with ASA I–III, scheduled for elective lumbar procedures, and able to report pain on a numeric rating scale. The trial randomizes participants 1:1 to receive L-PVB, L-ESPB, or general anesthesia with standard analgesia alone, with ropivacaine used for blocks where applicable.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* ge ≥65 years
* Scheduled for elective lumbar spine surgery
* American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-III
* Ability to assess pain using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)
* Provision of written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Refusal to participate
* Chronic opioid therapy
* Coagulation disorders
* Use of anticoagulant therapy contraindicating regional anesthesia
* Infection at the planned needle insertion site
* Allergy to ropivacaine or other study-related medications
* Severe hepatic failure
* Severe renal failure
* Cognitive impairment preventing reliable pain assessment
* Inability to cooperate with study procedures
* Extensive reoperation or surgery of unusually large extent that may interfere with outcome assessment
* Contraindications to general anesthesia or regional anesthesia

Where it's running

• Poznan University of Medical Sciences
  Poznan, Poland Recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Tomasz Reysner, MD PhD
• Email: treysner@ump.edu.pl
• Phone: +48 (61) 831-01-22

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.