Does bilateral superficial cervical plexus block improve the quality of recovery after anterior cervical spine surgery?

Surgery on the front of the neck to treat cervical spine (neck) problems — such as a slipped disc or spinal instability — is increasingly common. Recovering from this surgery can involve significant pain, which can slow down discharge from hospital. This study investigates whether a nerve block technique called a bilateral superficial cervical plexus block — where local anaesthetic is injected around the nerves in the neck using ultrasound guidance — can improve pain control after surgery and help patients recover faster and go home sooner. This same nerve block has been shown to work well in thyroid surgery, but there is little evidence yet for cervical spine operations. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either the real nerve block or a placebo (inactive) injection, and neither they nor their doctors know which they received. You may be eligible if you are aged 16 or older and are scheduled for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, anterior cervical disc replacement surgery, or anterior fusion for an isolated cervical spine injury. You are not eligible if you are having surgery for cancer, have multiple trauma injuries, are pregnant, or have allergies to the local anaesthetics used (ropivacaine or bupivacaine).