Transversalis Fascia Plane vs Ilioinguinal and Iliohypogastric Nerve Block for the Treatment of CPIP

March 11, 2025 updated by: Damla Yürük, Diskapi Teaching and Research Hospital

Comparison of Ultrasound-guided Transversalis Fascia Plane Block With Ultrasound-guided Ilioinguinal and Iliohypogastric Nerve Block in the Treatment of Chronic Post-herniorrhaphy Inguinal Pain

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of ultrasound (US)-guided transversalis fascia plane block (TFP) and ilioinguinal (II) and iliohypogastric (IH) nerve block in the treatment of chronic post-herniorrhaphy inguinal pain (CPIP) refractory to conservative treatments. For this evaluation, a numerical rating scale (NRS) will be used before and after both interventions.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

Chronic post-herniorrhaphy inguinal pain (CPIP) after inguinal hernia surgery significantly affects quality of life and daily activities. The incidence of this condition ranges from 15% to 53% and its management is often challenging. CPIP is defined as pain lasting more than three months and can be diagnosed if no organic cause can be found to explain the pain at the end of this period. There are various methods in the treatment of CPIP, including medical therapy, nerve blocks and surgical intervention.

The inguinal region is mainly innervated by the ilioinguinal (II) and iliohypogastric (IH) nerves. These nerves are the most commonly damaged structures after inguinal hernia surgery.

However, the II and IH nerves can be easily blocked in isolation throughout their entire course in the groin area or in the abdominal wall at different injection sites using fascial plane blocks such as transversalis fascia plan block (TFP). These blocks are frequently preferred because of their ease of application and wide analgesic effects. Therefore, studies investigating the efficacy of fascial blocks that provide ease of application are increasing.

Although TFP and II-IH blocks have been used in the treatment of acute postoperative inguinal pain, they have been used in a limited number of studies for CPIP; however, no study has compared the efficacy and advers effect rates of these methods.

The primary aim of this study is to compare the efficacy of these two treatment modalities. The secondary aim is to determine the incidence of adverse events associated with US-guided TFP and II-IH nerve block therapy. A total of at least 80 patients will be enrolled for comparison, 40 patients in each group. The NRS score will be compared both within and between groups before, 1 month after and 3 months after treatment.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

80

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

      • Ankara, Turkey
        • Recruiting
        • Diskapi Training and Research Hospital
        • Contact:
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Complaints of inguinal pain >12 weeks post-herniorrhaphy surgery
  • >18 years of age
  • Failure of conservative pain management

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Other causes of inguinal pain (haematoma, infection, tubo-ovarian disease, abscess, etc., gynaecological, urological and organic pathologies after inguinal hernia, etc.)
  • Pregnancy
  • Coagulopathy, antiaggregant/anticoagulant/antiplatelet use
  • Unstable psychiatric illness

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: transversalis fascia plane block group
transversalis fascia plane block for chronic postherniorrhaphy inguinal pain
With the patient in the lateral decubitus position, an 8-12 Hz linear ultrasound (US) probe is placed transversely over the iliac crest. The external oblique (EO), internal oblique (IO) and transversus abdominis (TA) muscles are identified so that the abdominal muscles are in the field of view. The TA muscle is then advanced posteriorly until it tapers to the thoracolumbar fascia with its aponeurosis adjacent to the quadratus lumborum (QL) muscle. The 22 gauge block needle is advanced in plane with the US probe. After placing the needle tip in the virtual triangular plane between the posterior edge of the TA muscle, the QL and the underlying transversalis fascia, 4 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine + 2 mL of a total of 8 mg dexamethasone + 4 mL of saline are injected for a total volume of 10 mL.
Active Comparator: ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerve block group
ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerve block for chronic postherniorrhaphy inguinal pain
With the patient in the supine position, an 8-12 Hz linear ultrasound (US) probe is placed medial and cephalal to the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS), transversely between the ASIS and the umbilicus. The external oblique (EO), internal oblique (IO) and transversus abdominis (TA) muscles are identified so that the abdominal muscles are in the field of view. The II-IH nerves are hyperechogenic in the fascial plane between the IO and TA muscles. A 22 gauge block needle is advanced in plane with the US probe. When the needle tip is advanced to the II and IH nerves, 4 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine + 2 mL total 8 mg dexamethasone + 4 mL saline is injected for a total volume of 10 mL.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Numerical rating scale (NRS)
Time Frame: Change from baseline to 1st and 3rd month after treatment
NRS is a scale that can be used measuring pain. Scores range from 0 (no pain) to 10 (the worst pain)
Change from baseline to 1st and 3rd month after treatment

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
procedure-related adverse events
Time Frame: Change from baseline to 1st and 3rd month after treatment
Any adverse events that occur during and after the TFP and II-IH block procedures will be recorded.
Change from baseline to 1st and 3rd month after treatment
patient satisfaction likert scale
Time Frame: Change from baseline to 30 minutes after procedure
Patient satisfaction is measured using a five-point Likert scale (1 = very dissatisfied, 2 = dissatisfied, 3 = neutral, 4 = satisfied and 5 = very satisfied).
Change from baseline to 30 minutes after procedure

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Study Chair: Gevher Rabia Genc Perdecioğlu, Diskapi TRH

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

February 11, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

August 1, 2025

Study Completion (Estimated)

October 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 11, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 11, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

March 25, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 25, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 11, 2025

Last Verified

March 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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