Optimized Costoclavicular Block for Elderly Proximal Humeral Fracture Surgery

Summary

Background: Proximal humeral fractures are common in elderly patients and often require surgical fixation (open reduction and internal fixation). Traditional regional anesthesia techniques, such as the interscalene brachial plexus block, may provide incomplete pain relief in the medial upper arm area and carry a high risk of hemidiaphragmatic paralysis, which can lead to breathing difficulties.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate whether an optimized nerve block strategy-ultrasound-guided costoclavicular brachial plexus block combined with superficial cervical plexus block and T2 thoracic paravertebral block-improves anesthetic success and reduces diaphragm dysfunction compared to the traditional interscalene approach in elderly patients undergoing proximal humeral fracture surgery.

Study Design: This is a multicenter, prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blind (participants and outcome assessors), superiority clinical trial.

Population: A total of 356 elderly patients (aged ≥65 years) with unilateral proximal humeral fractures scheduled for open reduction and internal fixation via an anterior surgical approach will be enrolled from three centers in Shanghai, China.

Intervention: Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to one of two groups:

* Experimental Group (Optimized Strategy): Receives ultrasound-guided costoclavicular brachial plexus block + superficial cervical plexus block + T2 thoracic paravertebral block (0.375% ropivacaine 20 mL for brachial plexus, 0.25% ropivacaine 10 mL for each of the other blocks).
* Control Group (Traditional Strategy): Receives ultrasound-guided interscalene brachial plexus block + superficial cervical plexus block + T2 thoracic paravertebral block (same drug regimen).

All nerve blocks will be performed under ultrasound guidance by a single anesthesiologist. Patients and outcome assessors will be blinded to group assignment; the performing anesthesiologist cannot be blinded due to the distinct anatomical approaches.

Main Outcomes:

* Primary Outcome: Nerve block success rate, defined as no pain or only mild pain requiring no rescue analgesics (e.g., intravenous opioids, conversion to general anesthesia, or local infiltration) during surgery.
* Key Secondary Outcomes: Rate of hemidiaphragmatic paralysis (assessed by ultrasound M-mode); rate of conversion to general anesthesia; postoperative pain (NRS, 0-10) at 24 hours; perioperative stress biomarkers (cortisol, ACTH, IL-6, HMGB-1, CRP, galectin-3); and postoperative shoulder function recovery.

Safety Monitoring: Adverse events, including unplanned conversion to general anesthesia, respiratory depression, pneumothorax, and severe hemidiaphragmatic paralysis, will be recorded and managed according to predefined protocols. An independent Data Monitoring Committee will review safety data and conduct interim analyses for futility.

Study Duration: The study is expected to take approximately 24 months from first patient enrollment to final follow-up completion.

Ethical Approval: This study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Shanghai Tongren Hospital. Approvals from the ethics committees of the other participating centers (Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital and Shanghai Xuhui Central Hospital) will be obtained before study initiation at those sites.

Conditions

• Proximal Humeral Fracture
• Anesthesia, Regional
• Diaphragmatic Paralysis

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Costoclavicular Brachial Plexus Block

Ultrasound-guided brachial plexus block performed at the costoclavicular space. The patient is placed in the lateral decubitus position with the operative side up. A high-frequency ultrasound probe is used to identify the brachial plexus at the costoclavicular space. Using an in-plane technique, 0.375% ropivacaine 20 mL is injected. This intervention is administered once prior to surgery.

PROCEDURE

Interscalene Brachial Plexus Block

Ultrasound-guided brachial plexus block performed at the interscalene groove. The patient is placed in the lateral decubitus position with the operative side up. A high-frequency ultrasound probe is used to identify the brachial plexus between the anterior and middle scalene muscles. Using an in-plane technique, 0.375% ropivacaine 20 mL is injected. This intervention is administered once prior to surgery.

PROCEDURE

Superficial Cervical Plexus Block

Ultrasound-guided superficial cervical plexus block. The patient is placed in the lateral decubitus position with the operative side up. A high-frequency ultrasound probe is used to identify the superficial cervical plexus at the lateral border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Using an in-plane technique, 0.25% ropivacaine 10 mL is injected. This intervention is administered once prior to surgery.

PROCEDURE

T2 Thoracic Paravertebral Block

Ultrasound-guided T2 thoracic paravertebral block. The patient is placed in the lateral decubitus position with the operative side up. A low-frequency ultrasound probe is used to identify the T2 transverse process, rib, pleura, and costotransverse ligament. Using an in-plane technique, 0.25% ropivacaine 10 mL is injected. This intervention is administered once prior to surgery.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Shanghai 6th People's Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• Shanghai Tong Ren Hospital

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Junfeng Zhang, MD · Shanghai Tong Ren Hospital

• Wenyi Zhang, MMed · Shanghai Tong Ren Hospital

• Hui Zhang, MD · Shanghai 6th People's Hospital

• Zhen Zeng, MD · Shanghai Xuhui Central Hospital

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-10-01

Primary Completion

2026-10-01

Completion

2029-09-30

Countries

• China

Study Locations