Testing the Feasibility of Using Ropivacaine in Spinal Anesthesia for Patients With Lower Back Surgery

This feasibility study is exploring whether ropivacaine — a long-acting local anesthetic — can be safely and effectively used in spinal anesthesia for patients undergoing lower back (lumbar) surgery. Currently, most lumbar surgeries are performed under general anesthesia, which carries more risks and often results in longer recovery times. Spinal anesthesia, where a local anesthetic is injected into the fluid around the spinal cord to numb the lower body, can reduce the need for opioids and general anesthetics, and may enable faster recovery. Ropivacaine is a newer local anesthetic with a potentially longer duration and improved safety profile compared to older alternatives like bupivacaine. To be eligible, participants must be adults (19–80 years) undergoing elective one or two-level lumbar spine surgery (between L2 and S1) expected to take 2 hours or less, with an ASA status of I–III, who are able to receive either spinal or general anesthesia and communicate in English. Those with allergies to local anesthetics, contraindications to spinal anesthesia (such as blood clotting problems), very high BMI, prior surgery at the same level, or expected surgery longer than 2 hours are excluded. Participants receive spinal anesthesia with ropivacaine and are monitored for effectiveness, sensory block duration, recovery time, and pain control. This pilot study lays the groundwork for a larger trial that could eventually establish spinal anesthesia as a standard option for lumbar surgery, potentially improving patient experience and reducing opioid use after surgery.