Nerve block may cut opioid use in Kids' cleft palate surgery

NCT ID NCT04909619

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tested whether a special nerve block given during cleft palate repair can lower pain and reduce the need for opioids in children. Forty children having their first cleft palate surgery received the nerve block. Researchers measured pain scores and opioid use to see if the block helps children recover faster and go home sooner.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

Ultrasound-guided bilateral suprazygomatic maxillary nerve block (a procedure that numbs the palate area)

What this could lead to

If effective, this nerve block could become a standard way to control pain after cleft palate surgery, reducing opioid use and shortening hospital stays.

What could go wrong

This is a small, single-center study with only 40 children. The results may not apply to all hospitals or children, and nerve blocks carry rare risks like allergic reaction or nerve damage.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

cleft palate

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

    Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States