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Comparison of the Efficacy of the Ultrasound With Fluoroscopy in Guidance of Lumbar Sympathetic Block

Comparison of the Efficacy of the Ultrasound With Fluoroscopy in Guidance of Lumbar Sympathetic Block: A Prospective Randomized Open-label Trial

Status
UNKNOWN
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02737527
Enrollment
50
Registered
2016-04-14
Start date
2016-04-30
Completion date
2017-11-30
Last updated
2016-06-10

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Diabetic Polyneuropathy, Peripheral Neuropathy, Postherpetic Neuralgia

Keywords

ultrasound, lumbar sympathetic block

Brief summary

This study compares the efficacy of the ultrasound with fluoroscope in guidance of lumbar sympathetic block (LSB). The goals of the study are; 1) To show that US-guided LSB results in shorter performance time compared to fluoroscope-guided LSB, 2) To evaluate the efficacy and safety of US-guided LSB, and 3) To verify that US-guided LSB has similar success rates to fluoroscope-guided LSB. 50 patients who are supposed to undergo LSB due to sympathetically maintained pain, satisfy criteria of inclusion and exclusion, and voluntarily sign the informed consent will be enrolled.

Interventions

PROCEDURE24G intravenous route for Lumbar Sympathetic Block (LSB):

Enrolled subjects enter the operative room with a 24G intravenous route, and then non-invasive blood pressure and pulse oxygen saturation level are continuously monitored during and after the procedure.

DEVICE15-cm Chiba needle for Lumbar Sympathetic Block (LSB)

The skin entry point is infiltrated using 1% lidocaine. A curved 21 G, 15-cm Chiba needle (Cook Inc., Bloomington, IN, USA) is then advanced toward the anterolateral edge of target vertebral body by posterolateral approach in patients with prone position.

DEVICEUltrasound for Lumbar Sympathetic Block (LSB)

Using Ultrasound, the L3 is identified by locating the lumbosacral junction on a paramedian sagittal scan and then counting cranially. After marking the level of L3 vertebra, the modified transverse scan through lumbar intertransverse space (ITS) is obtained with the transducer positioned 4-6 cm lateral to the mid-line at the L2-L3 intervertebral level. The needle is inserted from a lateral to medial direction using in-plane technique. The needle tip is inserted towards the anterior fascia of the psoas major muscle as close as paravertebral space.

DEVICEFluoroscope for Lumbar Sympathetic Block (LSB)

Briefly, fluoroscopic guided LSBs are performed at the lower third of the L2 or the upper third of the L3 vertebra. A targeted lumbar vertebral is identified by AP fluoroscopic imaging and the fluoroscopic C-arm is adjusted 25-35° laterally to avoid the transverse process over the needle pathway. After the skin infiltration, the needle is advanced toward the anterolateral edge of the target lumbar vertebra under fluoroscopic guidance using the tunnel vision technique.

DRUG10 ml of 0.25% levobupivacaine injection for LSB

After excluding vascular injection with contrast media by a C-arm image intensifier on anteroposterior (AP) and lateral view, 10 ml of 0.25% levobupivacaine is injected through the Chiba needle.

PROCEDURETemperature measurement for Lumbar Sympathetic Block (LSB)

Temperature monitoring and measurement: skin-surface temperatures are monitored with small, adhesive thermocouple probes attached bilaterally to the plantar surface of the feet using transparent patches at 1-min intervals for a maximum of 20 min.

PROCEDUREPostprocedure care for LSB

Adverse events such as genitofemoral nerve block, lumbar plexus block (transient unilateral leg weakness), or others are documented during and after the procedure for 30 min.

Sponsors

Seoul National University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 85 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Patients who have sympathetically-mediated pain and are supposed to undergo LSB procedure (e.g. pain with asymmetric skin temperature of lower limb in previous thermography, small fiber disorder in previous quantitative sudomotor axon reflex test (QSART), vascular insufficiency in lower extremities, diabetic polyneuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia, complex regional pain syndrome, cancer-related neuropathic pain such as chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, other lower extremity neuropathies, lower extremity crush injury etc.) * Numeric rating scale (NRS) ≥ 4/10 * Failure of previous conservative treatments, such as physiotherapy, oral medication, or other noninvasive treatment

Exclusion criteria

* Previous lumbar sympathetic neurolysis * Bleeding tendency * Local infection * Allergy to local anesthetics or contrast media * Pregnancy * Severe variation near procedure site-scoliosis, tumor, abdominal aneurysm, etc. * BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 * Cognitive dysfunction

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Difference in Procedure time (I1)through the LSB procedure completion (day 0)U group: the time interval between the contact of the US probe with the patient's skin and the completion of the injection of levobupivacaine F group: the time interval between the first radiographic image and the end of the injection of levobupivacaine

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Onset time of block (I2)through the LSB procedure completion (day 0)Definition of successful LSB: temperature rises as high as 2℃ from initial temperature on an ipsilateral sole in 20 min after the injection of levobupivacaine. Temperatures are measured at 1-min intervals and recorded from the time of administration of levobupivacaine onwards. Assessments are continued for a maximum of 20 min.
The number of needle passesthrough the LSB procedure completion (day 0)In both groups, the initial needle insertion counted as one pass; any subsequent needle advancement that is preceded by a withdrawal of more than 1 cm counts as an additional pass
The number of the needle contact to bone during the procedurethrough the LSB procedure completion (day 0)
Spreading pattern of contrast dye during the procedurethrough the LSB procedure completion (day 0)Spreading pattern of contrast dye will be measured by 3 patterns (normal/muscular spread pattern/ intravascular spreading).
An 11-pointed NRS pain score related to the procedure onlythrough the LSB procedure completion (day 0)measured twice -1) just after the procedure at OR, and 2) at recovery room just before discharge
Success ratethrough the LSB procedure completion (day 0)Definition of successful LSB: temperature rises as high as 2℃ from initial temperature on an ipsilateral sole in 20 min after the injection of levobupivacaine. Temperatures are measured at 1-min intervals and recorded from the time of administration of levobupivacaine onwards. Assessments are continued for a maximum of 20 min.
Changes of an 11-pointed NRS pain score from baseline for their lower extremity painperforms telephone follow-up in 72 hours.
Procedure-related NRS pain scoreperforms telephone follow-up in 72 hours.
Changes of dose in analgesicsperforms telephone follow-up in 72 hours.NSAIDs, paracetamol, and opioids
Any adverse events remainedperforms telephone follow-up in 72 hours.
A 5-pointed Likert satisfaction scale related to the procedureperforms telephone follow-up in 72 hours.
Any adverse eventsUp to 72 hours after the proceduregenitofemoral nerve block, lumbar plexus block (transient unilateral leg weakness, or other events

Countries

South Korea

Contacts

Primary ContactJee Youn Moon, MD, PhD
jymoon0901@gmail.com82-10-5299-2036
Backup ContactChang Soon Lee, MD
iparid@gmail.com82-2-2072-0881

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026