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Serratus Posterior Superior Intercostal Plane Block for Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Ultrasound-Guided Serratus Posterior Superior Intercostal Plane Block for Postoperative Analgesia Management in Patients Undergoing Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery

Status
Recruiting
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06866054
Enrollment
50
Registered
2025-03-10
Start date
2025-04-10
Completion date
2025-08-30
Last updated
2025-07-04

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

Conditions

Shoulder Pain, Shoulder Injuries

Keywords

Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery, Postoperative analgesia management, serratus posterior superior intercostal plane block

Brief summary

Postoperative pain is a significant problem in patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery. This situation disrupts the patient's comfort and affects the functional outcome after surgery by preventing early rehabilitation. Various methods are used for postoperative pain control. Intravenous opioid agents are one of the most commonly used analgesic techniques. However, opioids can cause undesirable side effects such as respiratory depression, sedation, constipation, allergic reactions, nausea, and vomiting. Therefore, alternative techniques are needed to reduce opioid use. Serratus posterior superior interfascial plane block (SPSIPB) is a novel interfascial plane block described by Tulgar et al in 2023. It is based on injection into the serratus posterior superior muscle at the level of the 2nd or 3rd rib. This block provides analgesia in cases such as interscapular pain, chronic myofascial pain syndromes, scapulocostal syndrome, and shoulder pain. It has been reported that SPSIPB provides effective shoulder analgesia.

Detailed description

Postoperative pain is a significant problem in patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery. This situation disrupts the patient's comfort, prevents early rehabilitation, and affects the functional outcome after surgery. Various methods are used for postoperative pain control. Intravenous opioid agents are one of the most commonly used analgesic techniques. However, opioids can cause undesirable side effects such as respiratory depression, sedation, constipation, allergic reactions, nausea, and vomiting. Therefore, alternative techniques are needed to reduce opioid use. Regional techniques can be used for postoperative pain treatment following arthroscopic shoulder surgery. Ultrasound (US)-guided serratus posterior superior block (SPSIPB) is a novel interfascial plane block described by Tulgar et al in 2023. It is based on the principle of injection into the serratus posterior superior muscle at the level of the 2nd or 3rd rib. This block provides analgesia in cases such as interscapular pain, chronic myofascial pain syndromes, scapulocostal syndrome, and shoulder pain. The SPS muscle is located at the C7-T2 level. It attaches to the lateral edges of the second and fifth ribs. It is innervated by the lower cervical and upper intercostal nerves. Analgesia is provided by blocking these nerves with the SPS block. Tulgar et al. reported in their cadaver study that the spread of the serratus posterior superior interfascial plane block; staining in the superficial fascia of the trapezius muscle was observed only on the left side at the 7-10th intercostal levels, but not on the right. There was significant staining deep in the trapezius muscle on both sides. Both the surface and the skin of the rhomboid major were clearly stained, while only the skin of the rhomboid minor was stained; SPSP block will provide successful analgesia in procedures involving the thoracic region such as breast surgery, thoracic surgery, and shoulder surgery. In this study, the investigators aim to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of SPSIPB by comparing the control group in patients who underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery.

Interventions

DRUGSPSIPB block

A high-frequency linear US probe (11-12 MHz, Vivid Q) will be covered with a sterile sheath, and an 80 mm block needle (Braun 360°) will be used. The procedure will be performed with the patient in the lateral decubitus position. After the scapula is shifted slightly laterally, the US probe is placed sagittal at the upper corner of the spina scapula, and the serratus posterior superior muscle is visualized with the third rib. The in-plane technique will be used. The block needle will be advanced in the craniocaudal direction to enter between the serratus posterior superior and the third rib. The block location will be confirmed by injecting 5 ml of saline between the rib and the muscle. After the block location is confirmed, 30 ml of 0.25% concentration bupivacaine will be used.

Patients will be administered ibuprofen 400 mgr IV every 8 hours in the postoperative period. A patient-controlled device prepared with 10 mcg/ ml fentanyl will be attached to all patients with a protocol including 10 mcg bolus without infusion dose, 10 min lockout time, and 4-hour limit. If the NRS score is ≥ 4, 0.5 mg kg-1 iv meperidine will be administered as a rescue analgesic. Postoperative patient evaluation will be performed by an anesthesiologist blinded to the procedure.

Sponsors

Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

The patient and the anesthesiologist who performs postoperative pain evaluation will not know the group.

Intervention model description

There are two models for this study. The first group is the serratus posterior superior intercostal plane block group. The second one is the control group.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 75 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification I-II * Scheduled for arthroscopic shoulder surgery under general anesthesia

Exclusion criteria

* history of bleeding diathesis, * receiving anticoagulant treatment, * known local anesthetics and opioid allergy, * infection of the skin at the site of the needle puncture, * patients who do not accept the procedure

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Opioid consumption (Fentanyl PCA)Changes from baseline opioid consumption at postoperative 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 24 hours.The primary aim is to compare postoperative opioid consumption from the PCA device.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Pain scores (Numerical rating scale-NRS)Changes from baseline pain scores at postoperative 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 24 hoursThe secondary aim is to compare NRS at the postoperative 24 h. Postoperative pain assessment will be performed using the NRS (0 = no pain, 10 = the most severe pain felt). The NRS scores will be recorded
Need for rescue analgesia (meperidine)Postoperative 24 hours periodThe secondary aim is to compare rescue analgesia used in the postoperative 24 h.
Adverse eventsPostoperative 24 hours periodThe secondary aim is to compare the adverse events (nausea, vomiting, itching) related to opioid use

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

Contacts

Primary ContactBora Bilal, Assoc Prof, MD
borabilal@gmail.com+905052354430
Backup ContactBahadir Ciftci, Assoc Prof, MD
bciftci@medipol.edu.tr

Outcome results

None listed

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