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

Wake Forest University (WFU)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Total Hip Arthroplasty; Osteoarthritis

Treatments: Other: LPB; Other: QLB

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03409900

IRB00048845

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Full 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.

Enrollment: 44 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 95 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

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

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

---

44 participants in 2 patient groups

LPB Unilateral DAA THA

Experimental group

Description:

Patients will be randomized to receive either a LPB or QLB for post-operative analgesia. Randomization to either LPB or QLB will occur via block randomization using sealed sequentially numbered opaque envelopes that will correspond to the order with which patients are enrolled. Patients and research assistants will be blinded to their randomization by administration of intravenous sedation (titrated to patient comfort), utilization of ultrasonography to visualize pertinent structures for both blocks, and by the nature of the block technique themselves both being in close proximity on the posterior lower back.

Treatment:

Other: LPB

QLB Unilateral DAA THA

Experimental group

Description:

Patients will be randomized to receive either a LPB or QLB for post-operative analgesia. Randomization to either LPB or QLB will occur via block randomization using sealed sequentially numbered opaque envelopes that will correspond to the order with which patients are enrolled. Patients and research assistants will be blinded to their randomization by administration of intravenous sedation (titrated to patient comfort), utilization of ultrasonography to visualize pertinent structures for both blocks, and by the nature of the block technique themselves both being in close proximity on the posterior lower back.

Treatment:

Other: QLB