Modified Thoracolumbar Interfascial Plane Block Versus Erector Spinae Plane Block in Patients Undergoing Spine Surgeries: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND Lumbar spine surgery is associated with significant postoperative pain. Interfascial plane blocks, such as erector spinae plane (ESP) and thoracolumbar interfascial plane (TLIP) blocks, can play a significant role in multimodal analgesic regimens. METHODS Sixty patients aged 18 to 60 years undergoing elective single or double-level lumbar discectomy or primary lumbar laminoplasty were recruited into this randomized double‑blind study. All patients received general anesthesia and were randomly allocated to either modified TLIP (mTLIP) block (group M) or ESP block (group E). Postoperative and intraoperative fentanyl consumption, and postoperative pain scores, were recorded. RESULTS Total 48 h postoperative fentanyl consumption was higher in Group M (189.66±141.11 µg) than in Group E (124.16±80.83 µg; P=0.031). In the first 24 postoperative hours, fentanyl consumption was higher in Group M (150.3±120.9 µg) than in group E (89.9±65.3 µg; P=0.01) but was similar between groups in postoperative hours 24to 48 (39.0±20.2 µg versus 34.7±17.1 µg in group M and group E, respectively; P=0.37). Additional intraoperative fentanyl requirement was 57.66±21.76 µg in group M compared with 40.33±21.89 µg in group E (P<0.01). Postoperative pain scores were higher in group M than in group E at 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively (P<0.001), but similar at 48 hours (P=0.164). CONCLUSION Compared with the mTLIP block, the ESP block was associated with lower pain scores and a small decrease in perioperative fentanyl consumption in patients undergoing lumbar spine surgeries. Both blocks could form a part of a multimodal analgesic regimen in spine surgery patients.