Opioid Usage and Patient Reported Outcome Comparison Following Erector Spinae Plane Block or Subcutaneous Anesthetic in Spinal Fusion Procedures

Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine if the method for injecting local anesthesia affects patients' pain and opioid usage after surgery. The investigators will compare subcutaneous anesthesia, injections of anesthesia under the skin, to a method called erector spinae plane block (ESPB). An ESPB injection involves placing local anesthesia along the muscles and bones in the back, using a special type of x-ray called fluoroscopy for guidance. The Investigators will use patient reported outcomes (PROs) and track subjects' opioid usage to find out if there is a difference between ESPB and subcutaneous anesthesia. The investigators hypothesize that patients who get ESPB injections will use less opioids and report less pain after lumbar fusion surgery compared to patients who receive subcutaneous anesthesia injections.

Eligibility

Age range

18+ years

Sex

All

Healthy volunteers

No

Interventions

• Procedure
  Erector Spinae Plane Block

  The erector spinae plane block (ESPB) is a method for injecting local anesthesia to reduce pain related to a surgical procedure. The anesthesia is theorized to spread along the paraspinal fascia and anesthetize a larger area, resulting in patients reporting less pain and using less opioids postoperatively.

• Procedure
  Subcutaneous Anesthesia

  Subcutaneous anesthesia injection involves placement of local anesthesia under the skin around the surgical incision. This is thought to reduce pain from the incision site postoperatively.

Location