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Lumbar Plexus Block Versus Quadratus Lumborum Block for Primary Anterior Total Hip Arthroplasty

Lumbar Plexus Block Versus Quadratus Lumborum Block for Primary Anterior Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Non-inferiority Trial

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03409900
Enrollment
44
Registered
2018-01-24
Start date
2019-03-04
Completion date
2019-11-22
Last updated
2020-05-12

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

Conditions

Osteoarthritis, Total Hip Arthroplasty

Keywords

Lumbar Plexus Block, Quadratus Lumborum Block, Direct Anterior Approach, Post-Operative, Pain Management

Brief summary

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is one of the most successful orthopedic procedures to effectively relieve pain and restore function in patients with end stage osteoarthritis. In an attempt to accelerate recovery many orthopedic surgeons have opted to utilize a direct anterior approach (DAA) as opposed to the more traditional posterolateral approach (PLA). The literature supports that DAA is superior to PLA with regard to lower blood loss, less pain, shorter hospital stay, and faster rehabilitation. Traditionally the study team has performed Lumbar Plexus blocks (LPB) to provide post-operative analgesia for total hip arthroplasty. The quadratus lumborum block (QLB) is a newer regional analgesic technique that may be as effective as LPB at providing pain control following DAA hip arthroplasty. This study is designed to compare the efficacy, with regards to post-operative pain management, between LPB and QLB following a DAA total hip arthroplasty.

Detailed description

In an attempt to accelerate recovery many orthopedic surgeons have opted to utilize a direct anterior approach (DAA) as opposed to the more traditional posterolateral approach (PLA) in regards to total hip arthroplasty (THA). The DAA technique involves dissection of muscular planes for insertion of components resulting in less tissue damage as compared to PLA. Traditionally the study team has performed Lumbar Plexus blocks (LPB) to provide post-operative analgesia for total hip arthroplasty. This technique works well for the traditionally performed PLA in that the hip joint and incision site are within the analgesic distribution of the LPB. Conversely, the DAA utilizes an anterior incision that overlies the L1 and L2 dermatomes as opposed to the lower lumbar dermatomes of the PLA incision. When performing LPB it has been the study team's clinical experience that it is rare to achieve analgesia in the proximal distribution of the lumbar plexus resulting in apparent sparing of the L1 and L2 nerve root distributions. The quadratus lumborum block (QLB) is a newer regional analgesic technique that may be as effective as LPB at providing pain control following DAA hip arthroplasty. The QLB is thought to provide analgesia by blocking both the lateral and anterior cutaneous branches of T7 through L4. This degree of dermatomal coverage suggests that QLB could be an efficacious alternative to LPB for DAA hip arthroplasty. It is hypothesized that the QLB will provide equivalent analgesia when compared to the LPB as determined by a comparison of verbal reported pain scores.

Interventions

OTHERLPB

The LPB will be performed in a lateral position, but modified to utilize ultrasound guidance to enhance our ability to quickly and safely locate the lumbar plexus as well as to avoid unblinding with regard to the traditional landmark LPB technique. For both LPB and QLB a TOTAL DOSE of 20 cc of the following local anesthetic mixture will be administered: Ropivacaine 0.2% and Epinephrine - 2.5 mcg/cc (1:400,000 concentration).

OTHERQLB

The QLB will be performed in a lateral position in a manner consistent with the technique first described by Børglum. For both LPB and QLB a TOTAL DOSE of 20 cc of the following local anesthetic mixture will be administered: Ropivacaine 0.2% and Epinephrine - 2.5 mcg/cc (1:400,000 concentration).

Sponsors

Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Caregiver)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 95 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Any patient between the ages of 18 and 95 years undergoing a primary elective, unilateral DAA total hip arthroplasty.

Exclusion criteria

* If the patient uses more than 40mg of Oxycodone equivalents per 24 hours or is on extended release opioid formulations. * Indication for surgery is secondary to trauma and/or hip fracture * If there is a contraindication to the performance of a regional block * Concomitant anticoagulation use or documented coagulopathy * Infectious or dermatologic conditions in the area of block placement that would otherwise increase the risk of peripheral nerve blockade * Presence of progressive neurologic deficit effecting peripheral nerves * Allergy or adverse reaction to study drugs to include: fentanyl, epinephrine, and amide local anesthetics * American Society of Anesthesia Physical Classification score \> or = to 4 * Allergies to study drugs other than local anesthetic * BMI \> 40 * Patient refusal * Pregnancy * Institutionalized individuals * Extremes of age: Age \> 95 or \< 18 * Non English speaking or inability to reliably participate in the study

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Verbal numeric pain score with hip flexion at 6hrs (Numeric Rating Scale (NRS))6 hours post blockQuantified on an 10 point pain scale with 0 representing no pain and 10 representing worst pain imaginable. Higher scores denotes worse outcomes.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Total opioid consumption over 24 hours24 hrs post blockTotal opioid consumption in the first 24hrs
Verbal numeric pain score at 6hrs at rest (NRS)6hrs post blockQuantified on an 10 point pain scale with 0 representing no pain and 10 representing worst pain imaginable. Higher scores denotes worse outcomes.
Verbal numeric pain score at rest and with movement at 24hrs post block24hrs post blockQuantified on an 10 point pain scale with 0 representing no pain and 10 representing worst pain imaginable. Higher scores denotes worse outcomes.
Time to first analgesicDuring hospitalization, up to 24hrsTime from PACU discharge to first requested analgesic
Rates of opioid related side effects (nausea, vomiting, pruritis)Within 24hrs post blockHas the patient had any nausea, vomiting, or pruritis within the first 24hrs
Patient satisfaction utilizing a Likert-scale questionnairePost operative day 1A patient satisfaction survey to administered on post operative day 1
Ability to straight leg raise on POD1Post operative day 1Is the patient able to perform an unassisted straight leg raise

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

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