Effect of alpha transcranial alternating current stimulation over the bilateral sensorimotor cortex on postoperative quality of recovery in patients undergoing lumbar fusion surgery: a single-centre, randomised, double-blind, sham-controlled trial protocol
- 1Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
- 2Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
- 3Department of Anesthesiology, Huzhou Central Hospital, Huzhou, Zhejiang, China
Abstract
Background: Recovery after lumbar fusion surgery is often affected by postoperative pain, emotional distress, sleep disturbance and delayed mobilisation, despite the use of enhanced recovery after surgery pathways. Alpha transcranial alternating current stimulation (alpha-tACS) over the sensorimotor cortex may modulate pain perception, emotional regulation and motor system performance by entraining abnormal neural oscillations. This trial aims to evaluate whether perioperative alpha-tACS improves early postoperative quality of recovery in patients undergoing lumbar fusion surgery.
Methods and analysis: This single-centre, randomised, double-blind, sham-controlled trial will enrol 120 adults scheduled for elective one-level or two-level open posterior lumbar fusion. Participants will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to receive either active alpha-tACS or sham stimulation. Stimulation will be delivered at four perioperative time points: 30 min before surgery, after extubation on the day of surgery and in the afternoons of postoperative days 1 and 2. Electrodes will be placed bilaterally over the sensorimotor cortex at C3 and C4. The primary outcome is the 15-item Quality of Recovery score on postoperative day 3. The key secondary outcome is global patient satisfaction with early postoperative pain management and the overall treatment experience at discharge. Other secondary outcomes include pain intensity, opioid consumption, disability, sleep quality, anxiety and depression, delirium, inflammatory markers, complications and length of hospital stay. The primary analysis will follow the intention-to-treat principle, using a linear mixed-effects model adjusted for relevant baseline and surgical covariates.
Ethics and dissemination: This study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University (XYFY2026-KL23-01). The trial will be conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. The results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals, presentations at scientific conferences and appropriate academic or public communication channels.
Trial registration number: ChiCTR2600122565.
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BibTeX
@article{zhou2026effect,
title = {{Effect of alpha transcranial alternating current stimulation over the bilateral sensorimotor cortex on postoperative quality of recovery in patients undergoing lumbar fusion surgery: a single-centre, randomised, double-blind, sham-controlled trial protocol}},
author = {Mingkai Zhou and Mingshu Tao and Pinghao Li and Jinling Liu and Tianxi Ma and Xiaoqin Guo and Chuyu Hang and Mingyuan Wang and Jiayi Zhong and Xiaoya Nie and Shuying Chen and Yanan Duan and Xiaoze Sun and Yuyang Zheng and Haochen Zhao and Linke Yu and Xingyu Xiong and Yumei Yu and Jun-Li Cao and He Liu},
journal = {BMJ Open},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1136/bmjopen-2026-124850},
url = {https://bmjopen.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/bmjopen-2026-124850},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Effect of alpha transcranial alternating current stimulation over the bilateral sensorimotor cortex on postoperative quality of recovery in patients undergoing lumbar fusion surgery: a single-centre, randomised, double-blind, sham-controlled trial protocol
AU - Mingkai Zhou
AU - Mingshu Tao
AU - Pinghao Li
AU - Jinling Liu
AU - Tianxi Ma
AU - Xiaoqin Guo
AU - Chuyu Hang
AU - Mingyuan Wang
AU - Jiayi Zhong
AU - Xiaoya Nie
AU - Shuying Chen
AU - Yanan Duan
AU - Xiaoze Sun
AU - Yuyang Zheng
AU - Haochen Zhao
AU - Linke Yu
AU - Xingyu Xiong
AU - Yumei Yu
AU - Jun-Li Cao
AU - He Liu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/29
JO - BMJ Open
DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2026-124850
UR - https://bmjopen.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/bmjopen-2026-124850
AB - Background: Recovery after lumbar fusion surgery is often affected by postoperative pain, emotional distress, sleep disturbance and delayed mobilisation, despite the use of enhanced recovery after surgery pathways. Alpha transcranial alternating current stimulation (alpha-tACS) over the sensorimotor cortex may modulate pain perception, emotional regulation and motor system performance by entraining abnormal neural oscillations. This trial aims to evaluate whether perioperative alpha-tACS improves early postoperative quality of recovery in patients undergoing lumbar fusion surgery. Methods and analysis: This single-centre, randomised, double-blind, sham-controlled trial will enrol 120 adults scheduled for elective one-level or two-level open posterior lumbar fusion. Participants will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to receive either active alpha-tACS or sham stimulation. Stimulation will be delivered at four perioperative time points: 30 min before surgery, after extubation on the day of surgery and in the afternoons of postoperative days 1 and 2. Electrodes will be placed bilaterally over the sensorimotor cortex at C3 and C4. The primary outcome is the 15-item Quality of Recovery score on postoperative day 3. The key secondary outcome is global patient satisfaction with early postoperative pain management and the overall treatment experience at discharge. Other secondary outcomes include pain intensity, opioid consumption, disability, sleep quality, anxiety and depression, delirium, inflammatory markers, complications and length of hospital stay. The primary analysis will follow the intention-to-treat principle, using a linear mixed-effects model adjusted for relevant baseline and surgical covariates. Ethics and dissemination: This study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University (XYFY2026-KL23-01). The trial will be conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. The results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals, presentations at scientific conferences and appropriate academic or public communication channels. Trial registration number: ChiCTR2600122565.
SN - 2044-6055
SN - 2044-6055
ER -