Inter-Semispinalis Plane Block Versus General Anesthesia for Postoperative Analgesia in Posterior Cervical Spine...

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Neurosurgery
• Pain Management

Background:

• Effective postoperative pain management is critical for outcomes in posterior cervical spine surgery.
• Opioids and NSAIDs have limitations in efficacy and safety for this patient population.
• The inter-semispinalis plane block (ISPB) is an emerging analgesic technique for cervical spine procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of ISPB with general anesthesia for postoperative analgesia.
• To evaluate pain scores (VAS), analgesic requirements, and patient-surgeon satisfaction.
• To assess the incidence of postoperative complications associated with ISPB.

Main Methods:

• A double-blind, randomized controlled trial involving 50 adult patients undergoing posterior cervical spine surgery.
• Patients were randomized into two groups: ISPB (bilateral ultrasound-guided at C5) and control (general anesthesia only).
• Outcomes measured included intraoperative fentanyl use, postoperative VAS pain, rescue analgesia needs, and complications.

Main Results:

• The ISPB group demonstrated significantly lower intraoperative fentanyl consumption.
• Postoperative pain scores (VAS) were significantly reduced at multiple time points in the ISPB group.
• The ISPB group required less rescue analgesia (pethidine) and reported higher surgeon satisfaction.

Conclusions:

• The inter-semispinalis plane block is a safe and effective analgesic strategy for posterior cervical spine surgery.
• ISPB reduces opioid consumption and improves pain control, leading to enhanced surgeon satisfaction.
• This technique holds potential for improving postoperative care and patient outcomes in this surgical context.