Upper Extremity Position and Intraocular Pressure During Spinal Anesthesia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

NCT07424417 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: EFSH-ANES-IOP-RCT-2026
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This prospective randomized controlled trial evaluated the effect of two upper extremity positions on intraocular pressure (IOP) in adult patients undergoing surgery under spinal anesthesia. Participants were randomly assigned to either an arms-at-sides position or a hands-on-chest position. IOP was measured in the right eye using an Icare ic200 rebound tonometer at predefined perioperative time points. Hemodynamic parameters, including mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation, were also recorded. The primary outcome was the change in IOP from baseline to 30 minutes after application of the assigned upper extremity position between the two upper extremity position groups.

Conditions

Intraocular Pressure; Spinal Anesthesia; Surgical Positioning

Keywords

Upper Extremity Position; Intraocular Pressure; Spinal Anesthesia; Surgical Positioning

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Intraocular Pressure From Baseline to 30 Minutes

  Intraocular pressure was measured in the right eye using an Icare ic200 rebound tonometer. The primary outcome was the change in intraocular pressure from baseline before spinal anesthesia to 30 minutes after application of the assigned upper extremity position between the two study groups.

  Baseline before spinal anesthesia and 30 minutes after application of the assigned upper extremity position (approximately 45 minutes after spinal anesthesia)

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Change in Intraocular Pressure From Baseline to 15 Minutes

  Baseline before spinal anesthesia and 15 minutes after spinal anesthesia, immediately before application of the assigned upper extremity position

• Mean Arterial Pressure

  Baseline before spinal anesthesia, 15 minutes after spinal anesthesia immediately before positioning, and 30 minutes after application of the assigned upper extremity position (approximately 45 minutes after spinal anesthesia)

Study Arms (2)

Arms-at-Sides Position

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants underwent spinal anesthesia. After the T15 intraocular pressure measurement, both arms were positioned alongside the body, parallel to the torso, with the palms facing upward, and this position was maintained for approximately 30 minutes until the final T45 measurement.

Other: Upper Extremity Positioning

Hands-on-Chest Position

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants underwent spinal anesthesia. After the T15 intraocular pressure measurement, both upper extremities were adducted with the elbows flexed, and the open hands were placed one over the other on the anterior chest wall. This position was maintained for approximately 30 minutes until the final T45 measurement.

Other: Upper Extremity Positioning

Interventions

Upper Extremity Positioning OTHER

Participants were assigned to one of two upper extremity positions after the T15 intraocular pressure measurement: arms positioned alongside the body or hands positioned over the chest. The assigned position was maintained for approximately 30 minutes until the final T45 intraocular pressure measurement.

Arms-at-Sides Position; Hands-on-Chest Position

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 80 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age between 18 and 80 years
• ASA physical status I-III
• Scheduled for elective open inguinal hernia repair under spinal anesthesia
• Ability to undergo intraocular pressure measurement
• Provision of written informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• History of glaucoma or ocular hypertension
• Previous ocular surgery or ocular trauma
• Active ocular disease or infection
• Contraindication to spinal anesthesia
• Inability to cooperate with intraocular pressure measurements
• Refusal to participate

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Elazıg Fethi Sekin Sehir Hastanesi: lead

Study Sites (1)

Elazığ Fethi Sekin City Hospital

Elâzığ, Outside of the US, 23200, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: Due to the visible nature of the upper extremity positioning intervention, blinding of participants, care providers, and the outcome assessor was not feasible. The investigator performing intraocular pressure measurements was not involved in randomization sequence generation or group assignment, and measurements were standardized using the same device, prespecified eye, neutral head and neck position, and predefined measurement quality criteria.
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 12, 2026
• First Posted: February 20, 2026
• Study Start: November 20, 2025
• Primary Completion: February 10, 2026
• Study Completion: February 10, 2026
• Last Updated: September 30, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)