Clinical Research Directory

Analgesic Efficacy of Continuous SESP vs Continuous FICB After Hip Arthroplasty

The primary objective of this prospective, randomized, observer-blinded controlled trial is to compare the postoperative analgesic efficacy of continuous intermediate-approach sacral erector spinae plane (SESP) block versus continuous supra-inguinal fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB) in adult patients undergoing elective posterior-approach total hip arthroplasty under spinal anesthesia. Sixty patients will be randomly allocated to receive either a continuous SESP block or a continuous supra-inguinal FICB. Both techniques involve an initial bolus of 30 mL 0.2% ropivacaine followed by intermittent boluses of 20 mL 0.1% ropivacaine every 6 hours for 72 hours via an indwelling catheter, in addition to standardized multimodal analgesia. The primary outcome is cumulative morphine milligram equivalents (MME) consumption over the first 72 postoperative hours. Secondary outcomes include pain scores at rest and during movement (NRS), quality of recovery (QoR-15) at 72 hours, motor function (modified Bromage scale), and adverse events. We hypothesize that continuous SESP block will provide superior opioid-sparing analgesia compared with continuous supra-inguinal FICB while maintaining comparable pain control, quality of recovery, and motor function preservation.