Quadratus Lumborum Block for Pain Control in Children Undergoing Palatoplasty with Anterior Iliac Bone Graft: A Randomized Trial

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating pain control methods for children aged 6 to 18 undergoing palatoplasty surgery, which includes harvesting bone from the front of the hip. The trial compares two ways of managing pain after surgery: a unilateral quadratus lumborum (QL) block performed by an anesthesiologist and local anesthetic infiltration (LAI) applied by the surgeon. The main focus is to assess post-operative pain within the first 48 hours, along with additional outcomes like pain medication use, block resolution time, and any complications related to these pain control methods. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either the QL block or local anesthetic infiltration after anesthesia induction. For the QL block, an anesthesiologist uses ultrasound guidance to inject ropivacaine with dexamethasone near specific muscles on the side of the bone graft site. The LAI group receives the surgeon's usual local anesthetic injection at the surgical incision site. To keep the study blind, a bandage is placed where the QL block would have been for those receiving LAI. Both techniques are part of the surgical procedure and are done under anesthesia. During the study, pain scores are recorded for the first 48 hours after surgery, and researchers monitor the time it takes for the block to resolve, opioid use, and any complications within that period. The study includes preoperative preparation, surgery, and postoperative observation up to 7 days to assess block resolution. Participants are admitted after surgery as planned and undergo routine monitoring and documentation of medication and pain levels to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the two pain control approaches.

QL vs LAI for Palatoplasty