Abstract
Background: Appropriate pain management is essential to improve the postoperative recovery after total hip arthroplasty (THA). Various case reports have indicated that anterior quadratus lumborum block (QLB) provides effective postoperative analgesia in lower limb surgeries. However, there are few randomized controlled trials that have confirmed the efficacy of anterior QLB for lower limb surgeries. The aim of this single-center, double-blind, randomized controlled trial is to confirm the efficacy of anterior QLB for postoperative recovery after THA.
Methods: The participants will be randomly assigned to either the anterior QLB group or the placebo group. After induction of general anesthesia, anterior QLB will be performed using 0.25% levobupivacaine or normal saline. Fentanyl will be administered according to blood pressure change during the surgery. The primary outcome will be the quality of recovery 40 score (QoR-40). Secondary outcomes will include the visual analog scale (VAS) score of pain intensity at rest and movement, intraoperative and postoperative doses of fentanyl, and incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting. Statistical analysis will be performed using the Student’s t-test, Mann–Whitney U-test, and Fisher’s exact test as appropriate. A p < 0.05 will be considered statistically significant.
Discussion: The results of our study will reveal whether anterior QLB is effective for postoperative recovery after THA.
Trial registration: UMIN Clinical Trials Registry, UMIN000032255. Registered on 15 April 2018.
Keywords: anterior quadratus lumborum block, hip osteoarthritis, peripheral nerve block, postoperative pain, regional anesthesia, total hip arthroplasty
Anterior quadratus lumborum block for postoperative recovery after total hip arthroplasty: a study protocol for a single-center, double-blind, randomized controlled trial
