Contrast and Anesthetic Level With Lumbar Erector Spinae Plan (ESP) Block

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Pain

In brief

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.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07174440

Run by

University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center

People needed

32

Starts

2025-09-15

Expected to finish

2027-01-25

Last updated by the study team

2026-03-11

Who can join

Age: 21 and older, up to 75. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• 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

You may not qualify if…

• 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

Where it is running

• University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center — Cleveland, Ohio, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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