Key result
Lumbar erector spinae plane block will be evaluated against conventional intravenous analgesia to determine if it reduces postoperative pain by at least 1 point on the VAS scale in the first two hours after hip surgery.
Why the study?
Lumbar erector spinae plane block is a novel technique for pain relief in hip surgery, but supporting evidence remains scarce.
RCT (n=180)
Open-label with blinded outcome assessment
Systematic randomization
No
L-ESPB may reduce opioid use after hip surgery; RCT extends scarce evidence for this regional technique.
BACKGROUND Ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia in hip surgery has been shown to reduce the need for opioids and conventional analgesics, facilitate ambulation and early recovery, improve respiratory dynamics, and decrease the incidence of venous thrombosis and pneumonia. Lumbar erector spinae plane block (L-ESPB) has been proposed as a novel ultrasound-guided locoregional technique to relieve pain in hip surgery; however, the supporting evidence remains scarce. OBJECTIVE This study aims to provide evidence on the role of L-ESPB in perioperative pain management during hip surgery. We hypothesize that patients receiving L-ESPB compared to those without block will have lower opioid consumption and less pain after hip surgery. The primary outcome is the difference in pain intensity, measured using the visual analog scale, at 2 hours postoperatively between the L-ESPB group and the control group. We will compare postoperative analgesic needs and opioid consumption in both groups, assess the technical ease of performing L-ESPB, and record any side effects in both treatment arms. Finally, we will evaluate the level of patient satisfaction. METHODS This is a pragmatic, single-center, parallel-group randomized controlled trial. After patients provide informed consent, they will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either ultrasound-guided L-ESPB or conventional intravenous analgesia. A total of 180 patients (n=90, 50% in each group) will be enrolled. Data analysis will be performed using SPSS software. RESULTS This clinical trial was approved by the European Medicines Agency on May 27, 2024, following approval by the local ethics committee earlier that month. Patient recruitment took place between June 2024 and May 2025. Statistical analysis is currently ongoing, and final results are expected to be submitted for publication in early 2026. CONCLUSIONS This clinical trial will enable us to assess the analgesic effectiveness of L-ESPB in hip surgery. We will also evaluate its safety and potential adverse effects compared with conventional analgesia and opioid consumption. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06567522; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06567522 INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT DERR1-10.2196/75854
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García-Reza et al. (2025) conducted an RCT in Hip and proximal femur surgery (n=180). Lumbar Erector Spinae Plane Block (L-ESPB) vs. Conventional intravenous analgesia was evaluated on Pain reduction of at least 1 point on the VAS scale in the first two hours after surgery. Lumbar erector spinae plane block will be evaluated against conventional intravenous analgesia to determine if it reduces postoperative pain by at least 1 point on the VAS scale in the first two hours after hip surgery.
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