Effect of Crossed Legged Position on Ultrasound Measured Posterior Longitudinal Ligament Length in Parturients.

Lawson Health Research Institute

Status: Completed

Conditions: Pregnancy

Treatments: Device: Ultrasonography

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04277988

107570

Details and patient eligibility

About

To investigate if sitting in flexed cross legged position for neuraxial techniques in term pregnant patients widens the size of the ultrasound acoustic window as measured by the visualized posterior longitudinal ligament length, during lumbar spine ultrasonography using longitudinal paramedian view, in comparison to the standard sitting flexed position.

Full description

This is a prospective observational study involving a total of 30 healthy term gestation pregnant patients with singleton fetuses.Patients will be randomly allocated to sit crossed leg or in standard position first. Using ultrasonography, the acoustic window for lumbar spinal anesthesia at L3-4 will be evaluated in both traditional sitting and crossed leg positions. Ultrasonography will be performed sequentially to measure the best visualized length of posterior longitudinal ligament,ligamentum flavum and interlaminar distance in the paramedian view.The scanned image will be saved to be remeasured by a third observer. Patients will be asked to score their comfort level while sitting in both positions.

Enrollment: 30 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 40 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Term gestation Singleton pregnancy 18 years or older Patients having elective cesarean delivery or induction of labor or in early labor

Exclusion criteria

• Allergy to ultrasound jelly
• Spinal Deformities/Previous spinal surgery
• No contraindication to neuraxial placement
• Any fetal concerns
• Morbid obesity
• Language barrier

Trial design

30 participants in 2 patient groups

Crossed leg position

Description:

Patients in this group will be randomly allocated to sit in crossed leg position first.Ultrasonography will be performed in this position to measure the best visualized length of posterior longitudinal ligament, ligamentum flavum and interlaminar distance at L3-4 lumbar level as by Operator 1 . These measurements will be recorded by Operator 2 using intrinsic caliper software.Operator 1 will not be told the measurements.

Treatment:

Device: Ultrasonography

Standard Sitting position

Description:

Patients in this group will be randomly allocated to sit in standard position first.Ultrasonography will be performed in this position to measure the best visualized length of posterior longitudinal ligament, ligamentum flavum and interlaminar distance at L3-4 lumbar level as by Operator 1 . These measurements will be recorded by Operator 2 using intrinsic caliper software.Operator 1 will not be told the measurements.

Treatment:

Device: Ultrasonography