Comparison of postoperative efficacy of erector spinae plan block and quadratus lumborum block in lombar disc surgery

Spinal surgery is typically characterized by severe postoperative pain. Although the number of spinal surgeries has increased, postoperative analgesia approaches have remained limited. The aim of this study is to compare the postoperative analgesic effect of iv ibuprofen applied preemptively with Erector Spina Plan Block (ESP) and Quadratus Lumborum Block-2 (QLB-2) in patients who underwent lumbar discectomy. Sixty patients between the ages of 18-65 and ASA I-III, who underwent single level lumbar discectomy, were divided into 3 groups according to postoperative analgesia technique: an Ibuprofen Group, an ESP Group, and a QLB-2 Group. VAS were recorded in the PACU at 0.min, 15th min, and in the patients room at 1st, 2nd, 4th, 12th, and 24th hours during the postoperative period. The time of first analgesic requirement, analgesic consumption in 24 hours, the nausea-vomiting scores and the duration of hospitalization were evaluated. In the ESP and QLB-2 groups, although the postoperative VAS at all times were lower than the ibuprofen group, only the postoperative 24 hour VAS was statistically significant (24th hour VAS; Group ESP: 0.75 ± 0.716, Group QLB-2: 0.85 ± 1.04, Group Ibuprofen: 1.80 ± 1.36, p <0.05). Postoperative nausea and vomiting were less common in the QLB-2 and ESP groups compared to the Ibuprofen group. Significantly difference was observed only between the ESP group and the Ibuprofen group (p<0.05). The first analgesic requirement time, analgesic consumption in the 24 hours and the hospitalization time were similar between the groups. Erector Spina Plan Block and Quadratus Lumborum Block were not superior to each other in postoperative pain management of patients who underwent lumbar disc surgery. However, we concluded that these block techniques were more effective than preemptive iv ibuprofen. Keywords: ESP, QLB, Ibuprofen, Postoperative analgesia.