Knee InjuriesNCT06562634
Effectiveness of Ultrasound-Guided Erector Spinae Plane Block for Postoperative Pain Control in Open Knee Surgeries
A study testing erector spinea plane block and Morphine Sulfate in people with Knee Injuries, run by Cairo University at 1 site in Egypt.
Trial summary
To estimate the efficacy of the ultrasound guided ESP block for postoperative pain control in open knee surgeries under general anesthesia. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Knee Injuries
- What is being tested?
- erector spinea plane block and Morphine Sulfate
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion, Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 1 siteEgypt
- Study dates
- 1 Mar 2025to Apr 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- 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 to 65 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- • Patients aged from 18 to 60 years old.
- Genders eligible for study: both sexes.
- ASA I-II.
- Undergo knee surgery.
- BMI from 18 to 35 kg/m2.
Who cannot join
- • Patient refusal.
- Patients with difficulty in evaluating their level of pain.
- Contraindications to regional anesthesia (Bleeding disorders e.g. INR>1.5, PC<70%, platelet count<100 × 109, Use of any anti-coagulants, local infection, etc.).
- Known allergy to local anesthetics.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
To estimate the efficacy of the ultrasound guided ESP block for postoperative pain control in open knee surgeries under general anesthesia.
Read the detailed description
Postoperative pain is a major concern after knee surgeries. It is severe in 60% of patients and moderate in 30%. When inadequately treated, it intensifies reflex responses, which leads to cause serious complications, such as cardiovascular, pulmonary or urinary problems, thromboembolism, increased oxygen consumption, hyperdynamic circulation and hinders early physical therapy. Generally it has been assumed that adequate postoperative pain relief may reduce these complications, and improve general postoperative outcome.
In the last decade Improvements in pain management techniques have had a major impact on the practice of knee surgeries. Although there are a number of treatment options for postoperative pain, a gold standard has not been established. Patient-controlled analgesia (PCA), epi¬dural analgesia and lumbar plexus and/or sciatic blocks are the commonly used routes for pain relief after joint surgery .Each of those options has advantages and disadvantages. PCA has fewer technical problems, uniform and sustained analgesia with autonomy, however it might lead to respiratory depression, nausea and vomiting. Epidural analgesia is an efficient route for postoperative analgesia ; however it is associated with technical failures, hypotension, urinary retention, and ileus, motor block that limits ambulation, unrecognized compartment syndromes, and spinal hematoma secondary to anticoagulation.
The ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane (ESP) block is a recently described regional anesthetic technique for providing thoracic analgesia when performed at the level of T5 transverse process. Local anesthetic is injected into the fascial plane deep to the erector spinae muscle, and spreads craniocaudally over several levels can lead to effective analgesia and sensory block from T2 to T9. Local anesthetic also penetrates anteriorly through the intertransverse connective tissue and enters the thoracic paravertebral space where it can potentially block not only the ventral and dorsal rami of spinal nerves but also the rami communicantes that transmit sympathetic fibers.
ESP advantages include its simplicity, easy identifiable ultrasonographic landmarks and an endpoint for injection and low risk for serious complications as injection is into tissue plane that is distant from pleura, major blood vessels and discrete nerves.
There is clinical report of two cases shows the ESP block may be a safe, simple and effective technique for analgesia following surgery around the knee.
However, confirmation of the efficacy of ESP block in knee surgeries needs more investigation.
- Conditions
- Knee Injuries
- Being tested
- erector spinea plane block, Morphine Sulfate
- Medical subject headings
- Knee Injuries
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
erector spinea plane blockProcedure or surgery
an echogenic 22-G block needle is inserted in-plane to the ultrasound beam in a cranial-to-caudal direction until contact was made with the L4 transverse process. Correct location of the needle tip in the fascial plane deep to erector spinae muscle is confirmed by injecting 0.5-1 ml saline and seeing the fluid lifting the erector spinae muscle off the transverse process while not distending the muscle. A total of 20ml bupivicaine 0.25%, and 20 ml xylocaine 1% will be injected into the ESP on the affected side.
Morphine SulfateDrug
intravenous morphine will be given in a dose of 0.1-0.2mg/kg to maintain intraoperative analgesia.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Ultrasound-Guided Erector Spinae Plane Block | Experimental | The patient will be placed in a prone position. A convex-array ultrasound probe will be placed in a transverse orientation at L4 level to identify the tip of the L4 transverse process .The tip of the transverse process is centered on the ultrasound screen and the probe is then rotated into a longitudinal orientation 2-3 cm lateral to vertebral column, in which the following layers will be visible superficial to the acoustic shadows of the transverse processes: skin, subcutaneous tissue, erector spinae muscle and psoas muscle. The lumbar skin region will be sterilized, local anesthetic infiltration of the superficial tissues, an echogenic 22-G block needle is inserted in-plane to the ultrasound beam in a cranial-to-caudal direction until contact was made with the L4 transverse process. A total of 20ml bupivicaine 0.25%, and 20 ml xylocaine 1% will be injected into the ESP on the affected side. Receives: Procedure: erector spinea plane block |
| Morphine | Experimental | intravenous morphine will be given in a dose of 0.1-0.2mg/kg to maintain intraoperative analgesia. Receives: Drug: Morphine Sulfate |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Total morphine consumption during the 1st 24 h postoperative.
Total morphine consumption during the 1st 24 h postoperative.
Measured: 24 hour postoperative
Secondary outcomes (7)
Intraoperative fentanyl consumption
Measured: Intraoperative
Time to first postoperative analgesic request
Measured: 24hour postoperative
Visual analogue score (0-10)
0: no pain 10:worst pain
Measured: 24hour postoperative
Hemodynamics :heart rate (bpm)
Measured: baseline ,Intraoperative every 15 min, postoperative for 24 hr
Block failure rate.
Measured: Intraoperative &24 hour postoperative
Incidence of complications. (Nerve injury, Hematoma formation, LA toxicity, Intravascular injection
Measured: 24hour postoperative
Hemodynamics :arterial blood pressure (systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure) in mmhg
Measured: baseline, intraoperative every 15 min, postoperative for 24 hr
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted20 Aug 2024
- Study start1 Mar 2025 (estimated)
- Primary completionApr 2025 (estimated)
- Study completionApr 2025 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (10)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Knee InjuriesStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Cairo UniversityThe 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
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Noha Sameh Darwish, Cairo University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06562634
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- ESPB in knee surgeries
- Status last verified
- Feb 2025
- First submitted
- 14 Aug 2024
- Last updated
- 17 Feb 2025
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Publications
Singelyn FJ, Deyaert M, Joris D, Pendeville E, Gouverneur JM. Effects of intravenous patient-controlled analgesia with morphine, continuous epidural analgesia, and continuous three-in-one block on postoperative pain and knee rehabilitation after unilateral total knee arthroplasty. Anesth Analg. 1998 Jul;87(1):88-92. doi: 10.1097/00000539-199807000-00019.
PubMed 9661552Kehlet H. Postoperative pain relief--what is the issue? Br J Anaesth. 1994 Apr;72(4):375-8. doi: 10.1093/bja/72.4.375. No abstract available.
PubMed 8155433Maheshwari AV, Blum YC, Shekhar L, Ranawat AS, Ranawat CS. Multimodal pain management after total hip and knee arthroplasty at the Ranawat Orthopaedic Center. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2009 Jun;467(6):1418-23. doi: 10.1007/s11999-009-0728-7. Epub 2009 Feb 13.
PubMed 19214642Sinatra RS, Torres J, Bustos AM. Pain management after major orthopaedic surgery: current strategies and new concepts. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2002 Mar-Apr;10(2):117-29. doi: 10.5435/00124635-200203000-00007.
PubMed 11929206Chelly JE, Greger J, Gebhard R, Coupe K, Clyburn TA, Buckle R, Criswell A. Continuous femoral blocks improve recovery and outcome of patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty. J Arthroplasty. 2001 Jun;16(4):436-45. doi: 10.1054/arth.2001.23622.
PubMed 11402405Forero M, Adhikary SD, Lopez H, Tsui C, Chin KJ. The Erector Spinae Plane Block: A Novel Analgesic Technique in Thoracic Neuropathic Pain. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2016 Sep-Oct;41(5):621-7. doi: 10.1097/AAP.0000000000000451.
PubMed 27501016Chin KJ, Adhikary S, Sarwani N, Forero M. The analgesic efficacy of pre-operative bilateral erector spinae plane (ESP) blocks in patients having ventral hernia repair. Anaesthesia. 2017 Apr;72(4):452-460. doi: 10.1111/anae.13814. Epub 2017 Feb 11.
PubMed 28188621Ayub A, Talawar P, Gupta SK, Kumar R, Alam A. Erector spinae plane block: A safe, simple and effective alternative for knee surgery. Anaesth Intensive Care. 2019 Sep;47(5):469-471. doi: 10.1177/0310057X19877655. Epub 2019 Nov 4. No abstract available.
PubMed 31684742Karmakar MK, Ho AM, Li X, Kwok WH, Tsang K, Ngan Kee WD. Ultrasound-guided lumbar plexus block through the acoustic window of the lumbar ultrasound trident. Br J Anaesth. 2008 Apr;100(4):533-7. doi: 10.1093/bja/aen026.
PubMed 18344573Weller R, Rosenblum M, Conard P, Gross JB. Comparison of epidural and patient-controlled intravenous morphine following joint replacement surgery. Can J Anaesth. 1991 Jul;38(5):582-6. doi: 10.1007/BF03008188.
PubMed 1934205
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 17 Feb 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effectiveness of Ultrasound-Guided Erector Spinae Plane Block for Postoperative Pain Control in Open Knee Surgeries
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06562634
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ESPB in knee surgeries
- Conditions
- Knee Injuries
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Enrolling by invitation
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Mar 2025 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Apr 2025 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Apr 2025 (estimated)
- First posted
- 20 Aug 2024 (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.
To estimate the efficacy of the ultrasound guided ESP block for postoperative pain control in open knee surgeries under general anesthesia.
Detailed description
Postoperative pain is a major concern after knee surgeries. It is severe in 60% of patients and moderate in 30%. When inadequately treated, it intensifies reflex responses, which leads to cause serious complications, such as cardiovascular, pulmonary or urinary problems, thromboembolism, increased oxygen consumption, hyperdynamic circulation and hinders early physical therapy. Generally it has been assumed that adequate postoperative pain relief may reduce these complications, and improve general postoperative outcome.
In the last decade Improvements in pain management techniques have had a major impact on the practice of knee surgeries. Although there are a number of treatment options for postoperative pain, a gold standard has not been established. Patient-controlled analgesia (PCA), epi¬dural analgesia and lumbar plexus and/or sciatic blocks are the commonly used routes for pain relief after joint surgery .Each of those options has advantages and disadvantages. PCA has fewer technical problems, uniform and sustained analgesia with autonomy, however it might lead to respiratory depression, nausea and vomiting. Epidural analgesia is an efficient route for postoperative analgesia ; however it is associated with technical failures, hypotension, urinary retention, and ileus, motor block that limits ambulation, unrecognized compartment syndromes, and spinal hematoma secondary to anticoagulation.
The ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane (ESP) block is a recently described regional anesthetic technique for providing thoracic analgesia when performed at the level of T5 transverse process. Local anesthetic is injected into the fascial plane deep to the erector spinae muscle, and spreads craniocaudally over several levels can lead to effective analgesia and sensory block from T2 to T9. Local anesthetic also penetrates anteriorly through the intertransverse connective tissue and enters the thoracic paravertebral space where it can potentially block not only the ventral and dorsal rami of spinal nerves but also the rami communicantes that transmit sympathetic fibers.
ESP advantages include its simplicity, easy identifiable ultrasonographic landmarks and an endpoint for injection and low risk for serious complications as injection is into tissue plane that is distant from pleura, major blood vessels and discrete nerves.
There is clinical report of two cases shows the ESP block may be a safe, simple and effective technique for analgesia following surgery around the knee.
However, confirmation of the efficacy of ESP block in knee surgeries needs more investigation.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, care provider)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Ultrasound-Guided Erector Spinae Plane Block | Experimental | Procedure: erector spinea plane blockThe patient will be placed in a prone position. A convex-array ultrasound probe will be placed in a transverse orientation at L4 level to identify the tip of the L4 transverse process .The tip of the transverse process is centered on the ultrasound screen and the probe is then rotated into a longitudinal orientation 2-3 cm lateral to vertebral column, in which the following layers will be visible superficial to the acoustic shadows of the transverse processes: skin, subcutaneous tissue, erector spinae muscle and psoas muscle. The lumbar skin region will be sterilized, local anesthetic infiltration of the superficial tissues, an echogenic 22-G block needle is inserted in-plane to the ultrasound beam in a cranial-to-caudal direction until contact was made with the L4 transverse process. A total of 20ml bupivicaine 0.25%, and 20 ml xylocaine 1% will be injected into the ESP on the affected side. |
| Morphine | Experimental | Drug: Morphine Sulfateintravenous morphine will be given in a dose of 0.1-0.2mg/kg to maintain intraoperative analgesia. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- • Patients aged from 18 to 60 years old.
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- • Patient refusal.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| erector spinea plane blockan echogenic 22-G block needle is inserted in-plane to the ultrasound beam in a cranial-to-caudal direction until contact was made with the L4 transverse process. Correct location of the needle tip in the fascial plane deep to erector spinae muscle is confirmed by injecting 0.5-1 ml saline and seeing the fluid lifting the erector spinae muscle off the transverse process while not distending the muscle. A total of 20ml bupivicaine 0.25%, and 20 ml xylocaine 1% will be injected into the ESP on the affected side. | Procedure or surgery | Ultrasound-Guided Erector Spinae Plane Block |
| Morphine Sulfateintravenous morphine will be given in a dose of 0.1-0.2mg/kg to maintain intraoperative analgesia. | Drug | Morphine |
Primary outcome
Total morphine consumption during the 1st 24 h postoperative.
Time frame: 24 hour postoperative
Total morphine consumption during the 1st 24 h postoperative.
7 secondary outcomes
Intraoperative fentanyl consumption
Time frame: Intraoperative
Time to first postoperative analgesic request
Time frame: 24hour postoperative
Visual analogue score (0-10)
Time frame: 24hour postoperative
Hemodynamics :heart rate (bpm)
Time frame: baseline ,Intraoperative every 15 min, postoperative for 24 hr
Block failure rate.
Time frame: Intraoperative &24 hour postoperative
Incidence of complications. (Nerve injury, Hematoma formation, LA toxicity, Intravascular injection
Time frame: 24hour postoperative
Hemodynamics :arterial blood pressure (systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure) in mmhg
Time frame: baseline, intraoperative every 15 min, postoperative for 24 hr
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 17 Feb 2025.
- Results publication: PubMed 9661552Singelyn FJ, Deyaert M, Joris D, Pendeville E, Gouverneur JM. Effects of intravenous patient-controlled analgesia with morphine, continuous epidural analgesia, and continuous three-in-one block on postoperative pain and knee rehabilitation after unilateral total knee arthroplasty. Anesth Analg. 1998 Jul;87(1):88-92. doi: 10.1097/00000539-199807000-00019.
- Results publication: PubMed 8155433Kehlet H. Postoperative pain relief--what is the issue? Br J Anaesth. 1994 Apr;72(4):375-8. doi: 10.1093/bja/72.4.375. No abstract available.
- Results publication: PubMed 19214642Maheshwari AV, Blum YC, Shekhar L, Ranawat AS, Ranawat CS. Multimodal pain management after total hip and knee arthroplasty at the Ranawat Orthopaedic Center. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2009 Jun;467(6):1418-23. doi: 10.1007/s11999-009-0728-7. Epub 2009 Feb 13.
- Results publication: PubMed 11929206Sinatra RS, Torres J, Bustos AM. Pain management after major orthopaedic surgery: current strategies and new concepts. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2002 Mar-Apr;10(2):117-29. doi: 10.5435/00124635-200203000-00007.
- Results publication: PubMed 11402405Chelly JE, Greger J, Gebhard R, Coupe K, Clyburn TA, Buckle R, Criswell A. Continuous femoral blocks improve recovery and outcome of patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty. J Arthroplasty. 2001 Jun;16(4):436-45. doi: 10.1054/arth.2001.23622.
- Results publication: PubMed 27501016Forero M, Adhikary SD, Lopez H, Tsui C, Chin KJ. The Erector Spinae Plane Block: A Novel Analgesic Technique in Thoracic Neuropathic Pain. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2016 Sep-Oct;41(5):621-7. doi: 10.1097/AAP.0000000000000451.
- Results publication: PubMed 28188621Chin KJ, Adhikary S, Sarwani N, Forero M. The analgesic efficacy of pre-operative bilateral erector spinae plane (ESP) blocks in patients having ventral hernia repair. Anaesthesia. 2017 Apr;72(4):452-460. doi: 10.1111/anae.13814. Epub 2017 Feb 11.
- Results publication: PubMed 31684742Ayub A, Talawar P, Gupta SK, Kumar R, Alam A. Erector spinae plane block: A safe, simple and effective alternative for knee surgery. Anaesth Intensive Care. 2019 Sep;47(5):469-471. doi: 10.1177/0310057X19877655. Epub 2019 Nov 4. No abstract available.
- Results publication: PubMed 18344573Karmakar MK, Ho AM, Li X, Kwok WH, Tsang K, Ngan Kee WD. Ultrasound-guided lumbar plexus block through the acoustic window of the lumbar ultrasound trident. Br J Anaesth. 2008 Apr;100(4):533-7. doi: 10.1093/bja/aen026.
- Results publication: PubMed 1934205Weller R, Rosenblum M, Conard P, Gross JB. Comparison of epidural and patient-controlled intravenous morphine following joint replacement surgery. Can J Anaesth. 1991 Jul;38(5):582-6. doi: 10.1007/BF03008188.
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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.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing erector spinea plane block and Morphine Sulfate in people with Knee Injuries, run by Cairo University at 1 site in Egypt.
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 5 inclusion and 4 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 17 Feb 2025. 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 Egypt. 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. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
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?
Total morphine consumption during the 1st 24 h postoperative. (time frame: 24 hour postoperative). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06562634, which also lists 10 linked publications.
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 17 Feb 2025; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 7 Nov 2026.