Contrast and Anesthetic Level With Lumbar Erector Spinae Plan (ESP) Block (NCT07174440) | Clinical Trial Compass
RecruitingNot Applicable
Contrast and Anesthetic Level With Lumbar Erector Spinae Plan (ESP) Block
United States32 participantsStarted 2025-09-15
Plain-language summary
As per usual care for spine surgery, participants will have their back cleaned with alcohol and a needle will be placed using ultrasound for the ESP block. Through the needle, a small catheter will be placed in the participants back and the needle removed. Approximately one hour prior to the start of surgery, a numbing medication (ropivacaine, similar to Novocaine) in combination with dexmedetomidine (a pain medicine that is used in nerve block and that is not a narcotic) and contrast dye (iohexol) will be injected through the catheter. Participants will then go through the QST procedure (test of buzzing sensation and temperature sensation through pads applied to their skin) to assess the numb areas and then head to the operating room. In the operating room, the catheter will be removed after the surgeon obtains baseline CT scan images of the spine. Once surgery is completed, investigators will record pain scores over the next four days in the hospital and the amount of pain medication needed for controlling pain related to the surgery.
Who can participate
Age range
21 Years – 75 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Age range: Adult patients 21-75 years of age
* ASA status: I-III
* Planned lumbar spine fusion involving no more than three levels
* Ability to ambulate prior to surgery
Exclusion Criteria:
* Previous lumbar spine surgery
* Metastatic cancer with involvement of the lumbar spine
* eGFR \< 60 mL/min/1.73m2
* Active liver disease (hepatitis or cirrhosis)
* Confirmed allergy to ropivacaine, dexmedetomidine or iohexol
* Cognitive impairment resulting in inability to rate pain scores
* Patients receiving 30 mg or more of morphine equivalent daily dosing preoperatively
* Pregnancy
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Verbal pain score as measured by the numerical rating scale (NRS)
Timeframe: 12 hours after surgery
Trial details
NCT IDNCT07174440
SponsorUniversity Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center