Bilateral Erector Spinae Plane Block for Myofascial Pain Syndrome

The investigators aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of bilateral erector spina plane block application in myofascial pain syndrome.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Myofascial Pain Syndrome
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Bilateral thoracal erector spinae plane block; Procedure: Trapezius muscle trigger point injection

Detailed Description

The investigators aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of bilateral erector spina plane block application in myofascial pain syndrome by comparing trigger point injection. Group 1 received erector spinae plane block, and group 2 received trigger point injection both administered in two weekly sessions. Before the application, one week after application and one month after application the investigators aimed to compare pressure pain threshold with algometer, visual analog scale score, neck disability index score, for the two groups. Each group has 30 participants, total 60 participants included this study. The investigators planned to show that bilateral erector spinae plane block can be used as an effective and safe method in the treatment of myofascial pain syndrome, since it is easier to apply than other invasive procedures used in the treatment and has a very low complication profile.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 60
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye), 34104
    • Istanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Get a myofascial pain syndrome diagnosis
• No invasive procedure for myofascial pain syndrome in the last 1 month
• Signing the informed consent form

Exclusion Criteria:

• Cervical disc herniation
• Neck/shoulder, thoracal trauma or operation history
• Malignancy
• Kyphoscoliosis
• Inflammatory diseases (Rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis...)
• Congenital vertebral anomalies
• Pregnancy
• Mental, psychogenic disorder
• Hematological diseases that cause bleeding and coagulation disorders
• Use of antiplatelet, anticoagulant and drugs that cause bleeding tendency
• Severe systemic infection such as sepsis and local infection at the intervention site
• Having an allergy to any of the drugs to be used

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Screening
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Bilateral Erector Spinae Plane Block	Procedure: Bilateral thoracal erector spinae plane block; Bilateral upper thoracal erector spinae plane block with ultrasound
Active Comparator: Trigger Point Injection; Trapezius muscle Trigger Point Injection	Procedure: Trapezius muscle trigger point injection; Trapezius muscle trigger point injection

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Comparison of the effectiveness of the two interventions (trigger point injection versus Erector spinae plane block) assessed by Visual analog scale (VAS):	The classic interventional treatment of myofascial back pain is trigger point injection. In addition, erector spina plan block has been applied in recent years as an interventional procedure that provides analgesia in the same region and is thought to have a long duration of action. Visual analog scale (VAS): Using a ruler, the score is determined by measuring the distance (mm) on the 10-cm line between the "no pain" anchor and the patient's mark, providing a range of scores from 0-100. A higher score indicates greater pain intensity.	Baseline
Comparison of the effectiveness of the two interventions (trigger point injection versus Erector spinae plane block) assessed by Visual analog scale (VAS):	The classic interventional treatment of myofascial back pain is trigger point injection. In addition, erector spina plan block has been applied in recent years as an interventional procedure that provides analgesia in the same region and is thought to have a long duration of action. Visual analog scale (VAS): Using a ruler, the score is determined by measuring the distance (mm) on the 10-cm line between the "no pain" anchor and the patient's mark, providing a range of scores from 0-100. A higher score indicates greater pain intensity.	1. month

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Istanbul University
• Investigators: Study Director: Halil Çetingök, Istanbul University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 25, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 1, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): March 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 5, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 3, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): October 4, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 15, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 12, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Pain; Erector spinae plane block; Trigger point; Algometer; Visual Analog Scale; Myofascial pain syndrome
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neurologic Manifestations; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Muscular Diseases; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Pain; Myofascial Pain Syndromes
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2019/725

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No