Study endpoints
| Endpoint | QL block | No block | Effect size (95% CI) | P value |
| Pain scores, mean (SE) | ||||
| 12 hours | 2.34 (0.46) | 3.33 (0.56) | −0.99 (−2.44 to 0.46) | 0.179 |
| 24 hours | 2.31 (0.37) | 4.06 (0.42) | −1.76 (−2.87 to −0.64) | 0.003 |
| 48 hours | 3.33 (0.43) | 4.11 (0.64) | −0.77 (−2.31 to 0.76) | 0.316 |
| Oral morphine equivalents, mean (SE) | ||||
| 12 hours | 16.64 (2.80) | 26.60 (3.47) | −9.96 (−18.86 to −1.06) | 0.029 |
| 12–24 hours | 12.99 (1.65) | 20.54 (2.22) | −7.55 (−13.06 to −2.04) | 0.008 |
| 24 hours | 30.05 (3.80) | 47.14 (4.72) | −17.09 (−29.14 to −5.04) | 0.006 |
| 24–48 hours | 24.26 (4.48) | 40.52 (6.31) | −16.26 (−31.52 to −1) | 0.037 |
| 48 hours | 54.63 (8.25) | 90.76 (10.65) | −36.13 (−62.89 to −9.37) | 0.009 |
| Hours to the first opioid, median (IQR) | 6.8 (3.78–19.05) | 5.10 (3.00–20.90) | 0.9 (0.53 to 1.51) | 0.679 |
| PT ambulation distance, mean (SE) | ||||
| POD 1 | 114.51 (10.39) | 100.85 (10.60) | 13.66 (−15.97 to 43.3) | 0.361 |
| POD 2 | 127.75 (17.33) | 106.69 (23.37) | 21.06 (−36.82 to 78.94) | 0.465 |
| Hours from randomization to hospital discharge, mean (SE) | 53.17 (4.99) | 55.97 (3.78) | -2.8 (−6.35 to 18.74) | 0.731 |
| Patient satisfaction, mean (SE) | 9.14 (0.28) | 7.46 (0.41) | 1.68 (0.71 to 2.65) | 0.001 |
P values less than 0.05 are considered statistically significant. Continuous data were summarized as mean and SE, categorical data were summarized as frequency and percentages, and time-to-event data were summarized as median and IQR. All effect sizes are differences in means except for hours to the first opioid; effect size for hours to the first opioid is HR.
POD, postoperative day; PT, physical therapy; QL, quadratus lumborum.