Interscalene Brachial Plexus Block Versus Serratus Posterior Superior Intercostal Plane Block for Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery

NCT07668648 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 26-AKD-92
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 80
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Arthroscopic shoulder surgery is associated with moderate to severe postoperative pain that may delay recovery and rehabilitation. Interscalene brachial plexus block (ISB) is widely used for postoperative analgesia in shoulder surgery; however, it may be associated with complications such as phrenic nerve paralysis. The serratus posterior superior intercostal plane (SPSIP) block is a recently described fascial plane block that may provide effective analgesia while avoiding some of the limitations of ISB. This prospective, randomized, double-blind controlled trial aims to compare the analgesic efficacy of ISB and SPSIP block in patients undergoing elective arthroscopic shoulder surgery under general anesthesia. The primary outcome is total postoperative opioid consumption during the first 24 hours after surgery. Secondary outcomes include postoperative pain scores, quality of recovery, time to first rescue analgesia, rescue analgesic requirements, intraoperative opioid consumption, sensory block distribution, motor block characteristics, and block-related complications.

Conditions

Postoperative Pain; Shoulder Arthroscopy

Keywords

Interscalene Brachial Plexus Block; Serratus Posterior Superior Intercostal Plane Block; Regional Anesthesia; Ultrasound-Guided Nerve Block

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Total Opioid Consumption During the First 24 Postoperative Hours

  Comparison of total postoperative opioid consumption between the interscalene brachial plexus block group and the serratus posterior superior intercostal plane block group during the first 24 hours after surgery.

  24 hours after surgery

Secondary Outcomes (6)

• Postoperative Pain Scores

  0, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 24 hours after surgery

• Quality of Recovery (QoR-15)

  24 hours after surgery

• Intraoperative Remifentanil Consumption

  During surgery

• Time to First Rescue Analgesic Requirement

  First 24 postoperative hours

• Rescue Analgesic Consumption

  First 24 postoperative hours

Study Arms (2)

Interscalene Brachial Plexus Block Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants receive an ultrasound-guided interscalene brachial plexus block before induction of general anesthesia for postoperative analgesia during arthroscopic shoulder surgery.

Procedure: Interscalene Brachial Plexus Block; Drug: Bupivacaine

Serratus Posterior Superior Intercostal Plane Block Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants receive an ultrasound-guided serratus posterior superior intercostal plane block before induction of general anesthesia for postoperative analgesia during arthroscopic shoulder surgery.

Procedure: Serratus Posterior Superior Intercostal Plane Block; Drug: Bupivacaine

Interventions

Interscalene Brachial Plexus Block PROCEDURE

Ultrasound-guided interscalene brachial plexus block performed before induction of general anesthesia for postoperative analgesia in arthroscopic shoulder surgery.

Interscalene Brachial Plexus Block Group

Serratus Posterior Superior Intercostal Plane Block PROCEDURE

Ultrasound-guided serratus posterior superior intercostal plane block performed before induction of general anesthesia for postoperative analgesia in arthroscopic shoulder surgery.

Serratus Posterior Superior Intercostal Plane Block Group

Bupivacaine DRUG

Bupivacaine administered for ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia block.

Interscalene Brachial Plexus Block Group; Serratus Posterior Superior Intercostal Plane Block Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 75 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Age between 18 and 75 years
• ASA physical status I, II, or III
• Scheduled for elective arthroscopic shoulder surgery under general anesthesia
• Provision of written informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Refusal to participate in the study
• Coagulopathy
• Current anticoagulant therapy
• Infection at the block site
• Previous surgery involving the planned block site
• Known allergy or history of toxicity to local anesthetics
• Hepatic failure
• Renal failure
• Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
• Cognitive impairment or mental disability preventing reliable assessment
• Chronic opioid use or ongoing chronic pain treatment
• Pregnancy, suspected pregnancy, or breastfeeding
• Chronic pulmonary disease (e.g., COPD or asthma)
• Failed block

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ferit Yetik: lead
• Bursa Sehir Hastanesi: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Bursa City Hospital

Bursa, Nilüfer, Turkey (Türkiye)

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Pain, Postoperative

Interventions

Bupivacaine

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Postoperative Complications; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Anilides; Amides; Organic Chemicals; Aniline Compounds; Amines

Study Officials

• Mürsel Ekinci

  University of Health Sciences, Bursa Faculty of Medicine, Bursa City Hospital

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Mürsel Ekinci, MD

CONTACT

+905067137596; drmurselekinci@gmail.com

Onur Güneş, MD

CONTACT

+905319418938; onurguness96@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Double (Participant, Outcomes Assessor)
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER GOV
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: MD

Model Details: Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either an ultrasound-guided interscalene brachial plexus block or a serratus posterior superior intercostal plane block before arthroscopic shoulder surgery.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 17, 2026
• First Posted: June 25, 2026
• Study Start: June 25, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 15, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 15, 2026
• Last Updated: June 29, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)