Using regional anesthesia to reduce opioid use in 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 study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of regional analgesic techniques, specifically the erector spinae plane block, in minimizing post-operative opioid requirements for patients undergoing minimally invasive lumbar spine surgeries. By administering a combination of bupivacaine, epinephrine, and clonidine, the study seeks to reduce reliance on opioids, thereby addressing the public health crisis of opioid overuse. The research will involve patients aged 18-80 who are scheduled for specific lumbar surgical procedures and will assess pain management outcomes and opioid consumption in the post-operative period.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 18-80
* Undergoing one of 3 procedure types: 1) 2 or more levels of MIS decompression (e.g., discectomy, foraminotomy, laminectomy); 2) 1-3 levels of MIS transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) (with or without additional levels of MIS decompression for no greater than 3 total operative levels); 3) 1-3 levels of anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) or MIS lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) accompanied by posterior percutaneous instrumentation at the same levels
* Willing and able to give consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Opioid tolerant at the time of the surgical procedure--defined as consuming greater than 30mg of morphine milligram equivalents (MME) daily (https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/prescribing/guideline.html)
* Presence of an indwelling pain device (e.g., intrathecal opioid pump, spinal cord stimulator, dorsal root ganglion stimulator)
* Known allergy to bupivacaine, clonidine or similar local anesthetics
* Indication for surgery other than degenerative disease (e.g., neoplasm, infection, trauma)
* Chronic kidney disease (stage 3 or greater), or hepatic failure
* Active pregnancy
* Disease process or mental illness that would preclude accurate evaluation of pain in the perioperative period
* Active Worker's Compensation litigation

Where it's running

• Rush University Medical Center
  Chicago, Illinois, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: John O'Toole, MD — Rush University Medical Center
• Study coordinator: Bart Jacher
• Email: bartosz_jacher@rush.edu
• Phone: (888) 352-7874

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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.