Comparison of the Effects of Medial and Lateral Erector Spinae Plane Block at the Apex of the Fifth Thoracic Vertebra Transverse Process and Exploration of the Role of Intermuscular Septum Fascia
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Recently, we had the opportunity to review a study on the selection of erector spinae plane block (ESPB) injection sites. 1 This study employed a rigorous randomised controlled trial design to investigate the differences in blocking effects between medial and lateral ESPB at the T5 transverse process apex.Furthermore, it proposed the potential role of the intermuscular potential fluid (IMPF) in drug diffusion, providing an important reference for the precise clinical implementation of ESPB.Below are our detailed evaluations and suggestions: Sample Size and Statistical Power: The current sample size (n = 20) may lack sufficient power to detect differences in secondary outcomes, such as the T11-T12 block rate, between the two groups.It is recommended to conduct a power analysis based on similar studies, such as Almahmeed et al., 2 to justify the adequacy of the sample size or consider increasing the sample size to enhance statistical power.Direct Verification of IMPF Structure: While the study speculates that IMPF influences drug diffusion, its existence has not been directly verified through imaging techniques (e.g., ultrasound or MRI) or autopsy.As suggested by Ortiz et al., incorporating ultrasound dynamic observation of the fascial blocking effect on drug diffusion may strengthen the credibility of the findings.
Authors: Ping Zhao, Qiuwan Han, Xu Qiu, Jian Zhao
Language: English
Subfield: Surgery
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7128908363
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