Evaluation of ultrasound guided erector spinae plane block efficacy on post operative pain in lumbar spine surgery: a randomized clinical trial

Objective: Patients suffer notable levels of pain after lumbar spine surgery. The primary objective of this randomized clinical trial is to investigate the efficacy of Erector Spinae Plane Block (ESPB) on 24-hour postoperative pain score of patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery. Cumulative opioid consumption and intraoperative bleeding were assessed as well.
Materials and Methods: Adult patient candidates for elective lumbar spine surgery were randomly assigned to case (ESPB) and control (no ESPB) groups. The block was performed under ultrasound guidance in prone position after induction of general anaesthesia. Both groups received the same anaesthesia medication and technique. Postoperative pain score, number of patients requiring rescue analgesia (meperidine), total amount of postoperative rescue analgesic demand in the first 24 hours and intraoperative bleeding were recorded.
To compare pain score variable in time span, the ANOVA repeated measure test was used. All the statistical tests were two tailed and P value less than 0.05 considered as statistically significant.
Results: In all time intervals, pain score in case group was significantly lower than control group. In case group, 8 patients demanded rescue analgesic (40%) which was significantly lower than that in control group (15 patients (75%)) (P = 0.025). Total amount of meperidine consumption was 57.50 ± 45.95 in control group and 22.50 ± 32.34 in case group (P = 0.01) which was higher in control group and statistically significant.
Conclusions: Erector spinae plane block reduces postoperative pain score and opioid consumption whilst it does not affect intraoperative bleeding in lumbar spine surgery.