Lumbar Disc HerniationNCT07166250
Comparison of the Effects of Quadratus Lumborum Block and Retrolaminar Block on Postoperative Pain in Lumbar Disc Herniation Surgery
A study testing Quadratus Lumborum Block and Retrolaminar Block in people with Lumbar Disc Herniation and Postoperative Pain, run by Kocaeli University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This study aims to compare the analgesic efficacy of quadratus lumborum block (QLB) and retrolaminar block (RLB) in patients undergoing lumbar disc herniation surgery. Both regional anesthesia techniques are increasingly used for postoperative pain management, but there is limited evidence directly comparing their… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Lumbar Disc Herniation, Postoperative Pain
- What is being tested?
- Quadratus Lumborum Block and Retrolaminar Block
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion, Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 82 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 16 May 2024to 20 Apr 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
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
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Patients aged 18-65 years
- American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-II-III
- Scheduled for elective lumbar disc herniation surgery under general anesthesia
- Willing to participate and provide written informed consent
- Patients scheduled for elective lumbar disc herniation surgery
Who cannot join
- Patients requiring emergency surgery
- ASA physical status classification IV-V
- Known coagulopathy
- Ongoing anticoagulant therapy
- History of allergy to local anesthetics
- Localized infection at the block injection site
Show all 9Show fewer
- Presence of spinal, paraspinal, or regional deformities at the block area
- Inability to understand or use the verbal pain rating scale
- Chronic use of analgesic medications
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
This study aims to compare the analgesic efficacy of quadratus lumborum block (QLB) and retrolaminar block (RLB) in patients undergoing lumbar disc herniation surgery. Both regional anesthesia techniques are increasingly used for postoperative pain management, but there is limited evidence directly comparing their effectiveness. The primary outcome is postoperative opioid consumption, while secondary outcomes include postoperative pain scores
Read the detailed description
Effective postoperative pain management is essential in patients undergoing lumbar disc herniation surgery. Regional anesthesia techniques, such as quadratus lumborum block (QLB) and retrolaminar block (RLB), have been increasingly used as alternatives or adjuncts to systemic analgesics. QLB provides analgesia by targeting the thoracolumbar fascia and spreading to the paravertebral space, whereas RLB is considered a simpler and potentially safer approach with similar analgesic potential.
This randomized controlled clinical trial is designed to compare the efficacy and safety of QLB and RLB for postoperative pain control. Adult patients scheduled for elective lumbar disc herniation surgery under general anesthesia will be randomized into two groups. One group will receive ultrasound-guided QLB, and the other group will receive ultrasound-guided RLB before surgical incision.
The primary outcome is total postoperative morphine consumption during the first 24 hours after surgery. Secondary outcomes include postoperative pain intensity measured using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) at multiple time points within the first 24 hours, the need for rescue analgesia, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and block-related complications.
- Conditions
- Lumbar Disc Herniation, Postoperative Pain
- Being tested
- Quadratus Lumborum Block, Retrolaminar Block
- Keywords
- Quadratus Lumborum Block, Retrolaminar Block, Spine Surgery Analgesia, Opioid Consumption
- Medical subject headings
- Intervertebral Disc Displacement, Pain, Postoperative
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Quadratus Lumborum BlockProcedure or surgery
Ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block performed preoperatively using local anesthetic injection at the thoracolumbar fascia for postoperative analgesia in lumbar disc herniation surgery.
Retrolaminar BlockProcedure or surgery
Ultrasound-guided retrolaminar block performed preoperatively using local anesthetic injection into the retrolaminar space for postoperative analgesia in lumbar disc herniation surgery
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Quadratus Lumborum Block | Experimental | Patients randomized to this group will receive an ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block (QLB) with local anesthetic injection before surgical incision for postoperative pain management. Receives: Procedure: Quadratus Lumborum Block |
| Retrolaminar Block | Experimental | Patients randomized to this group will receive an ultrasound-guided retrolaminar block (RLB) with local anesthetic injection before surgical incision for postoperative pain management. Receives: Procedure: Retrolaminar Block |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Total Postoperative Opioid Consumption
Total cumulative amount of intravenous morphine consumed (in milligrams) via patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) device.
Measured: Within the first 24 hours after surgery
Secondary outcomes (2)
Postoperative pain intensity (Numerical Rating Scale, NRS 0-10)
Pain intensity will be assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), where 0 = no pain and 10 = worst imaginable pain.
Measured: Within the first 24 hours after surgery
Need for rescue analgesia
Number of patients requiring additional rescue analgesic medication during the postoperative period.
Measured: Within the first 24 hours after surgery
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted10 Sep 2025
- Study start16 May 2024
- Primary completion26 Dec 2025
- Study completion20 Apr 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Lumbar Disc HerniationStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Two-arm randomized controlled trial comparing quadratus lumborum block and retrolaminar block in patients undergoing lumbar disc herniation surgery.
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 82 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Kocaeli University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Nermin Kandemir, Kocaeli University
- Investigators
- dilek icli, prof. dr., Principal investigator, Kocaeli University, Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07166250
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- KANDEMIR-QLB-O
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 3 Sep 2025
- Last updated
- 22 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 22 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparison of the Effects of Quadratus Lumborum Block and Retrolaminar Block on Postoperative Pain in Lumbar Disc Herniation Surgery
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07166250
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- KANDEMIR-QLB-O
- Conditions
- Lumbar Disc Herniation, Postoperative Pain
- Keywords
- Quadratus Lumborum Block, Retrolaminar Block, Spine Surgery Analgesia, Opioid Consumption
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 82 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Kocaeli UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 16 May 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 26 Dec 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 20 Apr 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 10 Sep 2025 (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.
This study aims to compare the analgesic efficacy of quadratus lumborum block (QLB) and retrolaminar block (RLB) in patients undergoing lumbar disc herniation surgery. Both regional anesthesia techniques are increasingly used for postoperative pain management, but there is limited evidence directly comparing their effectiveness. The primary outcome is postoperative opioid consumption, while secondary outcomes include postoperative pain scores
Detailed description
Effective postoperative pain management is essential in patients undergoing lumbar disc herniation surgery. Regional anesthesia techniques, such as quadratus lumborum block (QLB) and retrolaminar block (RLB), have been increasingly used as alternatives or adjuncts to systemic analgesics. QLB provides analgesia by targeting the thoracolumbar fascia and spreading to the paravertebral space, whereas RLB is considered a simpler and potentially safer approach with similar analgesic potential.
This randomized controlled clinical trial is designed to compare the efficacy and safety of QLB and RLB for postoperative pain control. Adult patients scheduled for elective lumbar disc herniation surgery under general anesthesia will be randomized into two groups. One group will receive ultrasound-guided QLB, and the other group will receive ultrasound-guided RLB before surgical incision.
The primary outcome is total postoperative morphine consumption during the first 24 hours after surgery. Secondary outcomes include postoperative pain intensity measured using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) at multiple time points within the first 24 hours, the need for rescue analgesia, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and block-related complications.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, care provider, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Two-arm randomized controlled trial comparing quadratus lumborum block and retrolaminar block in patients undergoing lumbar disc herniation surgery.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Quadratus Lumborum Block | Experimental | Procedure: Quadratus Lumborum BlockPatients randomized to this group will receive an ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block (QLB) with local anesthetic injection before surgical incision for postoperative pain management. |
| Retrolaminar Block | Experimental | Procedure: Retrolaminar BlockPatients randomized to this group will receive an ultrasound-guided retrolaminar block (RLB) with local anesthetic injection before surgical incision for postoperative pain management. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Patients aged 18-65 years
- American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-II-III
- Scheduled for elective lumbar disc herniation surgery under general anesthesia
- Willing to participate and provide written informed consent
- Patients scheduled for elective lumbar disc herniation surgery
Key exclusion criteria (9 listed)
- Patients requiring emergency surgery
- ASA physical status classification IV-V
- Known coagulopathy
- Ongoing anticoagulant therapy
- History of allergy to local anesthetics
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Quadratus Lumborum BlockUltrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block performed preoperatively using local anesthetic injection at the thoracolumbar fascia for postoperative analgesia in lumbar disc herniation surgery. | Procedure or surgery | Quadratus Lumborum Block |
| Retrolaminar BlockUltrasound-guided retrolaminar block performed preoperatively using local anesthetic injection into the retrolaminar space for postoperative analgesia in lumbar disc herniation surgery | Procedure or surgery | Retrolaminar Block |
Primary outcome
Total Postoperative Opioid Consumption
Time frame: Within the first 24 hours after surgery
Total cumulative amount of intravenous morphine consumed (in milligrams) via patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) device.
2 secondary outcomes
Postoperative pain intensity (Numerical Rating Scale, NRS 0-10)
Time frame: Within the first 24 hours after surgery
Need for rescue analgesia
Time frame: Within the first 24 hours after surgery
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 22 Oct 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. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
dilek icli, prof. dr. principal investigator
Kocaeli University, Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Quadratus Lumborum Block and Retrolaminar Block in people with Lumbar Disc Herniation and Postoperative Pain, run by Kocaeli University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
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 9 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: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 22 Oct 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 Turkey (Türkiye). 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?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
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 Postoperative Opioid Consumption (time frame: Within the first 24 hours after surgery). 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 22 Oct 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 8 Nov 2026.