Document resource
Background and Aims At the Orthopedic Trauma Centre (CTO) in Turin, more than 250 spine fusions are performed every year. This surgery causes a moderate to severe postoperative pain. According to the poor evidences in the use of locoregional anesthesia (ALR) in this surgery, we decide to compare intrathecal morphine (ITM) and Erector Spinae Plane Block (ESPB).Methods The study is a single center prospective observational study. Preliminary results show a homogeneous population of 15 patients. Group 1 (8 patients) received 75 mcg of intrathecal morphine (ITM), group 2 (7 patients) received Erector Spinae Plane Block (ESPB), 20 ml of Ropivacaine 0,375% each sides.Results We found no significant side effects between the two techniques. Postoperative pain, quantified as NRS on awakening (T0), was no statistically significant between the two groups (p-value 0.23). In the postoperative period the NRS at 2–4-6–12 and 24 h was higher in the ESPB group, although the difference was statistically significant only at 4 h with a p-value of 0.04. Regarding the use of morphine in the first 24 h, as rescue therapy, it was higher in the ESPB group than in the ITM group (p-value < 0.05).Abstract EP207 Figure 1Use of morphine in the first 24 h postopAbstract EP207 Figure 2NRS at T0Conclusions The two techniques proved to be safe, and ITM seems to provide better pain control in the postoperative period. The observational study certainly needs to be continued to enlarge the sample size and make the data stronger, possibly allowing differences between the two groups to be highlighted.