Clinical Research Directory

Erector Spinae Plane Blockade in Pediatric Scoliosis Surgery Patients

Providing effective analgesia after spinal fusion for idiopathic scoliosis remains a challenge with significant practice variation existing among high volume spine surgery centers. Even in the era of multimodal analgesia, opioids are the primary analgesics used for pain control after pediatric scoliosis surgery, but have multiple known adverse effects. The erector spinae plane block (ESPB) is a newly described fascial plane block performed by injecting local anesthetic between the erector spinae muscle and the transverse process. Additionally, there are case reports describing the ESPB as part of a multi-modal analgesic plan in adult degenerative spine surgery as well as adult spinal deformity surgery, demonstrating effective analgesia and no clinical motor blockade. Although it is known that the inflammatory reaction plays a crucial role in the mechanism of acute pain after major surgery, the effectiveness of the current regional approach on inflammatory response is not well studied.

Virtual Reality's Effect on Decreasing Pain and Subsequent Opioid Use in Pediatric Patients in the Post-Operative Period Following Scoliosis Repair

The goal of this study is to determine whether introducing VR in the immediate post-operative period following scoliosis repair can reduce perceived pain and stress in pediatric patients and in turn ultimately decrease opioid use. Based on previous studies that have been performed in other fields of pediatrics showing a decrease in pain and stress with VR use, the investigators hypothesize that VR will significantly decrease patient's reported level of pain and stress immediately following the VR session, and that patients will require less opioids during their inpatient stay as a result.

Self-correction Evaluation in Scoliosis Patients

To date, there is no objective assessment method for the quality of the self-correction performed by patients with scoliosis. The study consists of two parts, both retrospective, and distinct on the basis of the tools used to assess self-correction. Part 1: Retrospective assessment of the radiographic variations between spontaneous position and self-correction in subjects suffering from juvenile and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Both measurements were performed in a single session. Part 2: Retrospective assessment of the variations between spontaneous and self-correcting position in subjects with juvenile and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis using objective parameters deriving from non-invasive 3D ultrasound instrumentation (Scolioscan, Telefeld, Hong Kong).