Ultrasound-guided transgluteal nerve block versus usual ER care for acute sciatica
Comparing Ultrasound-Guided Transgluteal Nerve Block to Standard Care for Emergency Department Patients With Low Back Pain and Sciatic Radiculopathy: A Randomized Controlled Trial
This test tries a transgluteal sciatic nerve block to see if it reduces pain better than usual emergency-room care for adults with acute sciatica.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of California, San Francisco Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (San Francisco, California) |
| Trial ID | NCT07397117 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Adults presenting to the emergency department with unilateral lumbosacral radicular pain and a pain score of 5/10 or higher will be randomized to receive either an ultrasound-guided transgluteal sciatic nerve block with ropivacaine or standard medical treatment. Pain scores and a short timed walking test will be recorded to compare short-term pain relief and functional improvement. Randomization and follow-up occur during the ED encounter and the immediate post-treatment period. The trial focuses on short-term outcomes in patients without neurologic deficits or contraindications to local anesthetic.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults aged 18 or older who present to the ED with unilateral sciatica-type lumbosacral radicular pain radiating to the leg and a pain score of at least 5/10, who can give informed consent and have no contraindications to nerve block, are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients with neurological deficits (bowel/bladder dysfunction or leg weakness), suspected spinal infection or tumor, allergy to local anesthetics, active coagulopathy or anticoagulation, or inability to consent are excluded and unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide faster and greater pain relief in the emergency department and reduce the need for systemic opioids while improving short-term mobility.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies of peripheral nerve blocks for radicular and sciatic pain have shown short-term pain relief, but the specific transgluteal sciatic nerve block in ED patients has been less extensively studied.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Adults aged 18 years and older * Presentation to ED with: * Acute or acute-on-chronic pain consistent with sciatica, defined as unilateral lumbosacral radicular pain radiating from the lower back or gluteal region to the posterior leg, may extend distal to the knee. * Pain score ≥ 5/10 on Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) Exclusion Criteria: * Known allergy to study medications (e.g., local anesthetics) * Coagulopathy or current anticoagulation therapy * Suspected or confirmed spinal infection, or tumor * Neurological deficits (bowel or bladder dysfunction, leg weakness) * Inability to provide informed consent
Where this trial is running
San Francisco, California
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, California, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Jeanne Noble, MD — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Tianyu Tang, MD
- Email: tianyu.tang@ucsf.edu
- Phone: 628-247-7578
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.