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A shot of numbing relief: could trigger point injections cut opioid use after neck surgery?

NCT ID NCT04640896

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: George Washington University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Aug 13, 2026 · Last updated Aug 14, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This trial tests whether giving trigger point injections—small amounts of numbing medication into tender neck muscles—shortly after anterior cervical surgery can reduce pain and the need for opioid painkillers. Patients undergoing elective anterior neck surgery are randomly assigned to receive either the injections or standard pain management. The study measures pain levels and opioid use in the first 24 hours after the procedure.

What this could mean

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

Active substance
Trigger point injections with bupivacaine, a numbing medication, given shortly after surgery
What this could lead to
If effective, this approach could offer a way to ease post-surgical neck pain and reduce reliance on opioid painkillers.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-stage trial, and results may not apply to all patients. There is a risk of injection-related side effects, and the benefit over standard care is not yet proven.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Back Pain Facial Pain Klippel-Feil syndrome myofascial pain syndrome Neck Pain

As listed by the trial registrant

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

CERVICAL FUSION MYOFACIAL PAIN PAIN, BACK PAIN, NECK

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • George Washington University Hospital

    Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20037, United States

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