Pain, PostoperativeEarly Phase 1NCT05247255
Quadratus Lumborum Block for Total Hip Arthroplasty
A Early Phase 1 study testing Active Comparator in people with Pain, Postoperative, run by University of California, Los Angeles at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The quadratus lumborum (QL) block is a fascial plane block that has been described to provide analgesia from T7-L3 dermatomes. The investigators aim to evaluate the efficacy of QL blocks in patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Pain, Postoperative
- What is being tested?
- Active Comparator
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 80 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 29 Mar 2022to Jan 2027
- Phase
- Early Phase 1
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Adult subjects undergoing elective primary total hip arthroplasty
Who cannot join
- patients age < 18,
- documented allergy to local anesthetic
- presence of peripheral neuropathy
- patients with current long term opioid use defined as receiving an opioid on most days in a 90 day period
- patients with a contraindication to spinal and regional anesthesia such as coagulopathy or infection at the site of the regional technique.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site
UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica
Santa Monica, California, 90404
About this study
Official title: Quadratus Lumborum (QL) Nerve Block for Patients Undergoing Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA)
The quadratus lumborum (QL) block is a fascial plane block that has been described to provide analgesia from T7-L3 dermatomes. The investigators aim to evaluate the efficacy of QL blocks in patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty (THA).
Read the detailed description
Investigators will enroll subjects planned for primary THA and allocate them into receiving a QL block with either saline or ropivacaine. Primary outcome will be pain scores over the first 48 hours after surgery.
- Conditions
- Pain, Postoperative
- Being tested
- Active Comparator, Placebo Comparator
- Keywords
- quadratus lumborum nerve block, analgesia, total hip arthroplasty, postoperative outcomes
- Medical subject headings
- Pain, Postoperative, Agnosia
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Active ComparatorDrug
QL block with 0.25% ropivacaine
Placebo ComparatorDrug
QL block with saline
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention Group | Active comparator | Quadratus lumborum nerve block with 0.25% ropivacaine Receives: Drug: Active Comparator |
| Control Group | Placebo comparator | Quadratus lumborum nerve block with saline Receives: Drug: Placebo Comparator |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Pain score
Pain scores will be assessed over 48hrs postop using the visual analog score
Measured: Up to 48 hrs post op
Secondary outcomes (6)
Opioid usage
Total morphine-equivalent will be calculated at 0-24hrs and 24-48hrs postop.
Measured: Up to 48 hrs post op
Time to first stand
The period between the end of surgery and the patient's first successful attempt at standing, with or without the assistance of devices (i.e. walker, cane) or staff assistance.
Measured: Up to 1 week post surgery
Time to first ambulation
Time to first ambulation of 50 feet or more, with or without the help of assist devices (i.e. walker, cane) or staff assistance.
Measured: Up to 1 week post surgery
Ambulation distance
This data point will be measured in feet and will be determined by the distance ambulated during the patient's first ambulation attempt after surgery, regardless of the length of ambulation (This distance will be counted regardless of whether the patient reaches the 50 feet requirement to be counted as the "time to first ambulation).
Measured: Up to 1 week post surgery
Length of hospital stay
Number of days in the hospital from postoperative day 0 to discharge
Measured: Until discharge from hospital, up to 1 week post surgery
Patient satisfaction
Patient satisfaction score will be assessed on day of discharge as measured by a 5-point scale with 1 = terrible, 2 = poor, 3 = satisfactory, 4 = good, and 5 = excellent.
Measured: Until day of discharge from the hospital, up to 1 week post surgery
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted18 Feb 2022
- Study start29 Mar 2022
- Primary completionDec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completionJan 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Pain, PostoperativeStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of California, Los AngelesThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Early Phase 1
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Quadruple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 80 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of California, Los Angeles
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Pamela Chia, University of California, Los Angeles
- Investigators
- Pamela Chia, MD, Principal investigator, University of California, Los Angeles
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05247255
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 21-001850
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 30 Jan 2022
- Last updated
- 5 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Quadratus Lumborum (QL) Nerve Block for Patients Undergoing Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA)
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05247255
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 21-001850
- Conditions
- Pain, Postoperative
- Keywords
- quadratus lumborum nerve block, analgesia, total hip arthroplasty, postoperative outcomes
- Phase
- Early Phase 1
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Enrolling by invitation
- Enrolment
- 80 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of California, Los AngelesUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 29 Mar 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Jan 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 18 Feb 2022 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The quadratus lumborum (QL) block is a fascial plane block that has been described to provide analgesia from T7-L3 dermatomes. The investigators aim to evaluate the efficacy of QL blocks in patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty (THA).
Detailed description
Investigators will enroll subjects planned for primary THA and allocate them into receiving a QL block with either saline or ropivacaine. Primary outcome will be pain scores over the first 48 hours after surgery.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Quadruple blind (participant, care provider, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention Group | Active comparator | Drug: Active ComparatorQuadratus lumborum nerve block with 0.25% ropivacaine |
| Control Group | Placebo comparator | Drug: Placebo ComparatorQuadratus lumborum nerve block with saline |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Adult subjects undergoing elective primary total hip arthroplasty
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- patients age < 18,
- documented allergy to local anesthetic
- presence of peripheral neuropathy
- patients with current long term opioid use defined as receiving an opioid on most days in a 90 day period
- patients with a contraindication to spinal and regional anesthesia such as coagulopathy or infection at the site of the regional technique.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Active ComparatorQL block with 0.25% ropivacaine | Drug | Intervention Group |
| Placebo ComparatorQL block with saline | Drug | Control Group |
Primary outcome
Pain score
Time frame: Up to 48 hrs post op
Pain scores will be assessed over 48hrs postop using the visual analog score
6 secondary outcomes
Opioid usage
Time frame: Up to 48 hrs post op
Time to first stand
Time frame: Up to 1 week post surgery
Time to first ambulation
Time frame: Up to 1 week post surgery
Ambulation distance
Time frame: Up to 1 week post surgery
Length of hospital stay
Time frame: Until discharge from hospital, up to 1 week post surgery
Patient satisfaction
Time frame: Until day of discharge from the hospital, up to 1 week post surgery
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 5 Jun 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Pamela Chia, MD principal investigator
University of California, Los Angeles
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Early Phase 1 study testing Active Comparator in people with Pain, Postoperative, run by University of California, Los Angeles at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: enrolling by invitation, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Early Phase 1 (sometimes called Phase 0) studies give a very small amount of a treatment to a few people, mainly to see how the body handles it.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Pain score (time frame: Up to 48 hrs post op). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 5 Jun 2026.