Randomization and blinding
The patients were divided into two groups of 25 patients each. The sealed envelope technique was used for randomization. All patients were assigned a randomization ID. This ID was used during postoperative follow-up. An experienced anesthesiologist who would not be involved in the patient's intraoperative or postoperative care and would only perform the block procedure opened the sealed envelope 1h before the surgery to learn which group the patient would be assigned to. Intraoperative and postoperative follow-up examinations were performed by two different physicians who were blinded to the patient group.