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Analgesic Efficacy of Bilateral Erector Spinae Plane Block in Pediatric Tethered Cord Syndrome Surgery

Analgesic Efficacy of Bilateral Erector Spinae Plane Block in Pediatric Tethered Cord Syndrome Surgery: A Prospective, Randomized Controlled Trial

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07404995
Acronym
ESPB
Enrollment
73
Registered
2026-02-12
Start date
2025-04-09
Completion date
2026-01-15
Last updated
2026-02-12

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

Conditions

Erector Spina Plan Block

Keywords

TETHERED CORD SENDROME, ESPB, TCI

Brief summary

Tethered Cord Syndrome is a developmental anomaly of neuroaxis characterized by stretching of the spinal cord and is diagnosed in the pediatric age group. Surgical release of the tight and tethered filum terminale is performed. Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) is used to preserve functional nerve tissue and prevent postoperative neurological deficits. Total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA-TCI) with propofol and remifentanil is used as the anesthesia method to ensure accurate measurements. Postoperative pain is acute pain caused by surgical trauma and signal transmission in afferent neurons. Pediatric postoperative pain is associated with adverse behaviors, prolonged hospital stay, and impaired functional recovery. Although good progress has been made in pain management, ineffective postoperative pain management in children remains a global problem. Regional anesthesia is increasingly used in pediatric patients to provide postoperative analgesia and support intraoperative anesthesia. Ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block (ESPB) is a new approach. First introduced in 2016 by Forero et al., ESPB is a novel regional anesthesia technique that blocks the branches of spinal nerves by injecting a local anesthetic into the fascial plane between the erector spinae muscle and the transverse process. The aim of our study was to reduce intraoperative anesthetic drug consumption, postoperative pain levels in the first 24 hours, the need for analgesics, and unwanted side effects associated with analgesics by applying bilateral ESPB in pediatric patients operated on for Tethered Cord Syndrome. Our hypothesis in this study is that bilateral ESPB reduces intraoperative anesthetic drug consumption and the need for postoperative analgesia in pediatric patients operated on for Tethered Cord Syndrome.

Detailed description

Ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block (ESPB) that aims for the ventral and dorsal rami of the spinal nerves was recently introduced in spine surgery to treat postoperative pain. ESPB was reported to be effective in scoliosis surgery as it reduced the need for analgesic drugs. Due to its relative technical simplicity, the main advantages postulated for the ESPB are few complications and minimal risk for spinal cord injury.

Interventions

DEVICEUNDER ULTRASOUND GUİDANCE ESPB BLOCK

In the ESP Block group, with the patient in the prone position, the research anesthesia team will insert a block needle through the skin one level above the surgical level using a linear probe guided by USG. The needle will pass through the trapezius and erector spinae muscles, and upon reaching the transverse process (approximately 2-3 cm deep), a test dose of 0.5-1 mL of 0.9% NaCl will be applied between the erector spinae fascia and the vertebral transverse process to confirm needle placement. After confirmation of fascial opening, a local anesthetic volume of 2 mL per vertebral pressure will be calculated, not exceeding a maximum dose of 2 mg/kg of 0.5% bupivacaine. This total volume will be diluted by half with 0.9% NaCl solution to prepare a 0.25% bupivacaine concentration. The calculated local anesthetic solution will be applied to the erector spinae region for ESPB. The same procedures will be performed on the opposite side.

PROCEDUREPROCEDURE/SURGERY: ERECTOR SPİNAE (ESP) BLOCK WİTH BUPİVACAİNE

For the ESP Block group, under USG guidance with the patient in prone position, a linear probe will be placed in the parasagittal plane one level above the operative level, and after visualizing the transverse process with an in-plane approach, a 50 mm long block needle will be inserted through the skin. A test dose of 0.5-1 mL of 0.9% NaCl will be administered between the erector spinae fascia and the transverse process of the vertebra to confirm needle placement. After confirming that the fascia has opened, a local anesthetic volume of 2 mL per vertebral pressure will be calculated, not exceeding a maximum dose of 2 mg/kg of 0.5% bupivacaine. This total volume will be diluted halfway with 0.9% NaCl solution to prepare a 0.25% bupivacaine concentration. The calculated local anesthetic solution will be administered to the erector spinae area, and ESPB will be performed. The same procedures will be performed on the opposite side.

Sponsors

Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Training and Research Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER_GOV

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
1 Years to 18 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

Patients whose parents have given their consent to the study * Patients aged 18 and under * Patients with ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) physical status I, II, and III * Pediatric patients who will undergo elective Tethered Cord Syndrome surgery

Exclusion criteria

Patients whose parents did not consent to participate in the study * Patients with ASA physical status IV and V * Those using anticoagulant medications * Allergy to local anesthetic drugs * Patients with a history of gastrointestinal bleeding * Those with infection in the area where the block is planned

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
INTRAOPERATİVE ANESTHETİC DRUG CONSUMPTİON BY APPLYİNG BİLATERAL ESPB İN PEDİATRİC PATİENTS.İNTRAOPERATİVETOTAL PROPOFOL (MİLLİGRAM) and TOTAL REMİFENTANYL (MİCROGRAM)

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
POSTOPERATIVE PAIN SCORESPOSTOPERATIVE SERVICE 0. MINUTE 30.MINUTE 12.HOURS 5. MINUTE 1. HOURS 24. HOURS 10. MINUTE 2.HOURS 15. MINUTE 4. HOURS 20. MINUTE 6.HOURSPOSTOPERATİVE PAİN SCORE (0: NONE, 100: VERY SEVERE)

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 13, 2026