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OPPOSED (anteriOr hiP arthroPlasty regiOnal aneSthEsia stuDy) Study

OPPOSED (anteriOr hiP arthroPlasty regiOnal aneSthEsia stuDy) Study. Regional Anesthesia Techniques for Anterior Approach Hip Arthroplasty Analgesia: SIFI Block Versus Lumbar ESP Block

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07017192
Enrollment
50
Registered
2025-06-12
Start date
2025-06-23
Completion date
2026-12-23
Last updated
2026-08-27

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

Conditions

Hip Arthroplasty, Hip Pain, Hip Replacement Postoperative, Hip Replacement Surgery, Hip Replacement, Total, Hip Surgery, Mobility and Independence, Pain,Postoperative

Brief summary

Main indications for total hip arthroplasty (THA) are degenerative osteoarthritis of the coxofemoral joint, osteonecrosis of the hip, congenital disorders such as dysplasia and inflammatory arthritis. More recently, surgery using the direct anterior approach is getting popularity: this method, in fact, granting a significant sparing of the hip muscles, is associated with favorable results compared to other techniques, such as a lower risk of dislocation, limitated damage to soft tissues with better recovery and early discharge. Patients undergoing this procedure may although experience moderate to severe postoperative pain in the first few hours (with peaks observed in the first 12 hours), as well as potential complications such as nausea and vomiting related to opioids use. It has been shown that adequate pain control influences early mobilization and rehabilitation, ensuring a quicker recovery. The role of regional anesthesia techniques has been established in almost all areas of orthopedic surgery, and in particularly in the management of postoperative pain following hip replacement surgery, but definitive data are missing with regard to direct anterior approach. Regional anesthesia consists of infiltrating local anesthetics in sites (fascial planes or nerves), in order to limit or even eliminate the use of traditional painkillers, with a significant reduction in the side effects. The aim of this study is to compare the impact of two techniques, the Suprainguinal Fascia Iliaca (SIFI) block and the lumbar Erector Spinae Plane (ESP) block, in managing postoperative pain in subjects undergoing total hip replacement surgery performed by direct anterior approach. The primary objective of the study is the incidence of residual femoral and obturator nerves block (knee extension and hip adduction according to ASIA score) 8 hours after surgery in the two treatment groups. Secondary objectives include: • Time elapsed between the end of surgery and the recovery of lower limb motility enough to allow the patient to mobilize independently; • Total opioid consumption (calculated as morphine equivalents) at 8, 24 and 48 hours after surgery; • Pain according to NRS (numerica rating scale) at 8, 24 and 48 hours after surgery; • Extent of sensory block of the three branches of the lumbar plexus (femoral, obturator, lateral femorocutaneuous nerves) at 8, 24 and 48 hours after surgery; • Timing of hospital discharge; • Incidence of chronic or persistent postoperative pain (at 30 and 90 days after surgery); • Any postoperative complication

Interventions

PROCEDURESIFI Block

Infiltration of local anesthetics in the suprainguinal iliac fascia (Ropivacaine 0.375 40 mls)

PROCEDUREESP block

Infiltration of local anesthetics in the fascial plane underneath the erector spoinae mulscle at lumbar level (Ropivacaine 0.375 40 mls)

Sponsors

A.O.U. Città della Salute e della Scienza
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* Age \>=18 years and =\<85 years * patients undergoing elective unilateral THA with direct anterior approach * patients able to understand the purposes of the study and provide signed informed consent

Exclusion criteria

* pregnancy * Age \<18 years or \>85 years * revision or bilateral surgeries * psychiatric pathology or cognitive deficits, mental retardation, inability to provide valid informed consent * History of illicit drugs and/or alcohol abuse * urgent/emergent surgery with admission to Intensive Care under sedation and mechanical ventilation or complications that do not allow evaluation * known allergy to the drugs used in the study * refusal to provide informed consent

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Incidence of residual femoral and obturator nerves block in the two treatment groups8 hours after surgery(knee extension and hip adduction according to ASIA score)

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Incidence of acute side effects related to opioid useUp to 48 hours after surgeryexcessive sedation, nausea and vomiting, respiratory depression, pruritus, urinary retention, constipation
Incidence of complications related to nerve blocksup to 48 hours after surgeryblock failure, nerve damage, hematomas, systemic toxicity from local anesthetics
Time elapsed between the end of surgery and the recovery of lower limb motility8 (or more) hours after surgeryAbility of patient to mobilize independently within the room
Total opioid consumption8, 24 and 48 hours after surgeryCalculated as morphine equivalents
Pain according to NRS (Numeric Rating Scale)8, 24 and 48 hours after surgeryScale 1-10 (1 corresponding to minimum and 10 corresponding to maximum pain perceived)
Extent of sensory block8, 24 and 48 hours after surgeryClinical evaluation of the three branches of the lumbar plexus (femoral, obturator, lateral femorocutaneuous nerves)
Incidence of postoperative complicationsUp to 48 hrs after surgeryBleeding, Bradyarrhythmic and/or hypotensive events, Nausea and Vomiting
Incidence of chronic or persistent postoperative pain30 and 90 days after surgeryFollow-up by phone, using Brief Pain Inventory (presence of pain/localization/characteristics) and DN4 (neuropathic component) questionnaires.
Timing of hospital dischargeFrom enrolment to the first follow up at 30 days

Countries

Italy

Contacts

CONTACTMarco Ulla, MD
marco.ulla@gmail.com0039-3397548673

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Aug 28, 2026