Riassunto dello studio

Eighty-one patients undergoing single-level lumbar fusion surgery were randomized to receive either ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block (ESPB, n=27), caudal epidural block (CEB, n=27), or no block (control, n=27). The primary outcome was total opioid consumption (TOC) in the first 24 hours. Secondary outcomes included pain scores (Numeric Rating Scale, NRS), time to mobilization, patient satisfaction score, length of hospital stay, and complications. Outcomes were assessed up to 72 hours post-surgery. Overall, the results of the study revealed that both block groups had significantly lower TOC, pain scores, and shorter hospital stays compared to the control group. The ESPB group had longer-lasting analgesia, shorter surgical times, and less blood loss than the CEB group. These findings suggest that both ESPB and CEB can be considered effective strategies in multimodal analgesia, with ESPB showing superior duration of analgesia.