Comparison of Posterior QLB and QIPB in Pediatric Undescended Testis Surgery.

Comparison of the Effects of Posterior Quadratus Lumborum Block and Quadroiliac Plane Block on Analgesic Consumption in Postoperative Pain Management in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Undescended Testis Surgery

This randomized, double-blind study compares the postoperative analgesic efficacy of ultrasound-guided Posterior Quadratus Lumborum Block (QLB) versus Quadroiliac Plane Block (QIPB) in pediatric patients aged 1-7 years undergoing unilateral undescended testis surgery.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Postoperative Pain; Cryptorchidism
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Ultrasound-guided Posterior Quadratus Lumborum Block.; Procedure: Ultrasound-guided Quadroiliac Plane Block

Detailed Description

Lower abdominal surgeries, such as undescended testis repair (orchiopexy), are common in pediatric patients and can cause significant postoperative pain. While Posterior Quadratus Lumborum Block (QLB) is a known technique for somatic and visceral analgesia, the Quadroiliac Plane Block (QIPB) is a newer approach targeting the fascial plane posterior to the iliac bone.

In this prospective, randomized, controlled trial, 70 pediatric patients (ASA I-II, aged 1-7 years) will be randomly assigned to receive either a Posterior QLB or a QIPB under general anesthesia. Both blocks will be performed using ultrasound guidance with 0.5 mL/kg of 0.25% bupivacaine.

The study aims to evaluate and compare the analgesic efficacy of these two techniques. Postoperative pain will be assessed using the FLACC scale. Secondary objectives include comparing the time to first rescue analgesic, total analgesic consumption, and incidence of complications.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 70
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Burak Ömür; Phone Number: +905056215056; Email: bomur@medipol.edu.tr

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Recruiting
    • İstanbul Medipol University
    • Contact: Burak Ömür; Phone Number: +905056215056; Email: bomur@medipol.edu.tr
    • Contact: Phone Number: +90 4448544

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male pediatric patients aged 1-7 years.
• ASA physical status I or II.
• Scheduled for unilateral undescended testis surgery.
• Written informed consent obtained.

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of neurological deficit or developmental delay.
• Bleeding diathesis or known coagulopathy.
• History of allergy to local anesthetics.
• Infection or skin lesion at the block injection site.
• Congenital spinal anomaly.
• Mental retardation or psychiatric history.
• Liver or kidney dysfunction.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Triple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Posterior QLB Group; Patients will be placed in the lateral decubitus position. Under ultrasound guidance, the probe will be placed at the posterior axillary line. The needle will be advanced to the posterior fascial plane of the quadratus lumborum muscle. A total of 0.5 mL/kg of 0.25% Bupivacaine will be injected	Procedure: Ultrasound-guided Posterior Quadratus Lumborum Block.; Patients will be placed in the lateral decubitus position. Under ultrasound guidance, the probe will be placed at the posterior axillary line. The needle will be advanced to the posterior fascial plane of the quadratus lumborum muscle. A total of 0.5 mL/kg of 0.25% Bupivacaine will be injected.
Experimental: QIPB Group; Patients will be placed in the lateral decubitus position. Under ultrasound guidance, the probe will be placed at the level of the iliac crest. The needle will be targeted to the plane where the quadratus lumborum muscle attaches to the iliac bone. A total of 0.5 mL/kg of 0.25% Bupivacaine will be injected.	Procedure: Ultrasound-guided Quadroiliac Plane Block; Patients will be placed in the lateral decubitus position. Under ultrasound guidance, the probe will be placed at the level of the iliac crest. The needle will be targeted to the plane where the quadratus lumborum muscle attaches to the iliac bone. A total of 0.5 mL/kg of 0.25% Bupivacaine will be injected

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Postoperative Pain Score (FLACC) at 12 Hours	Pain severity assessed using the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) scale. The total score ranges from 0 to 10, where higher scores indicate worse pain.	12 hours post-surgery.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Time to First Rescue Analgesic Request.	Time in minutes from surgery completion to the first dose of rescue analgesia.	Up to 24 hours.
Total Postoperative Analgesic Consumption	Cumulative amount of rescue analgesics consumed (mg).	24 hours post-surgery.
Incidence of Postoperative Complications.	Assessment of complications such as urinary retention, motor block, hematoma, or ecchymosis at the injection site.	Up to 24 hours.
Postoperative Pain Scores (FLACC) at Other Time Points.	Pain severity assessed using the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) scale at 30 minutes, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 24 hours. The total score ranges from 0 to 10, where higher scores indicate worse pain.	30 minutes, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 24 hours post-surgery.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Medipol University
• Collaborators: Prof. Dr. Cemil Tascıoglu Education and Research Hospital Organization; Biruni University
• Investigators: Study Chair: Selçuk Alver, Biruni University; Study Chair: Volkan Özen, Prof. Dr. Cemil Tascioglu City Hospital, Istanbul.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 13, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): April 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 15, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 15, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 23, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 5, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 3, 2026
• Last Verified: March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Urogenital Diseases; Genital Diseases; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Endocrine System Diseases; Postoperative Complications; Pathologic Processes; Genital Diseases, Male; Male Urogenital Diseases; Gonadal Disorders; Congenital Abnormalities; Urogenital Abnormalities; Testicular Diseases; Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Pain, Postoperative; Cryptorchidism
• Other Study ID Numbers: 150, 22.01.2026

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