Ultrasound-guided transmuscular quadratus lumborum block for anterior iliac crest bone graft promotes early ambulation in patients undergoing cervical corpectomy and fusion

Abstract

Context: The iliac crest (IC) is widely used as an autograft for bony fusion in spine surgeries. The pain after IC harvesting is severe enough to delay ambulation and thus hospital discharge. Aim: This study aimed to determine the effect of a transmuscular quadratus lumborum block (QLB) on postoperative ambulation in patients undergoing anterior IC bone graft harvesting. Settings and Design: This was a retrospective study of patients who underwent cervical corpectomy and fusion with anterior IC bone graft over a period of 3 years. Materials and Methods: Group A was patients who received QLB for anterior IC bone graft harvest site pain, and those who did not receive QLB were Group B. The primary outcome was the time taken for ambulation, and the secondary outcomes compared were the pain scores, hemodynamics, and the duration of hospital stay. Results: A total of 34 patients were studied, of which 17 patients received QLB (Group A) and the rest 17 did not receive QLB (Group B). The demographics, preoperative and intraoperative variables, and the pain score were comparable between the groups. The patients in the QLB group ambulated early as compared to Group B (1.5 ± 0.7 vs. 2.4 ± 0.9 days = 0.002). Further, the duration of postoperative hospitalization was shorter in the former as compared to the latter (3.8 ± 1.6 vs. 5.1 ± 2.1 days; P = 0.054). There were no complications related to the QLB. Conclusion: The administration of QLB resulted in earlier postoperative ambulation in patients undergoing cervical corpectomy with AIC bone graft. Although the length of hospitalization was shorter in the QLB group, it was not statistically significant.