Comparison of Ultrasound-guided superficial cervical plexus block, greater auricular nerve block and local infiltration for postoperative analgesia in tympanomastoid surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study aims to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of three different analgesic techniques used for pain control after tympanomastoid surgery. Postoperative pain after ear surgeries is often significant, and although opioids are commonly used, they are associated with adverse effects. Regional anesthesia techniques, particularly when performed using ultrasound guidance, can improve targeted pain relief and reduce the need for systemic analgesics. In this study, 99 patients aged 18 to 60 years undergoing tympanomastoid surgery will be randomly divided into three groups: one group will receive an ultrasound-guided superficial cervical plexus block, the second group will receive an ultrasound-guided greater auricular nerve block, and the third group will receive local anesthetic infiltration at the surgical site. Pain will be assessed at multiple intervals postoperatively using the Numerical Rating Scale, along with total analgesic consumption, incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, and patient satisfaction measured using a Likert scale. The study follows a randomized controlled design, with standard anesthetic management for all participants and clearly defined rescue analgesic protocols. Statistical analysis will include ANOVA for comparison of mean pain scores and Chi-square test for categorical outcomes. By directly comparing these commonly used analgesic methods, the study seeks to determine which approach provides the best postoperative pain control with minimal side effects, thereby improving recovery and overall patient comfort following tympanomastoid surgery.