PENG block for total hip arthroplasty

Abstract

<p>Total hip arthroplasty (THA) has become one of the most common elective orthopedic surgical procedures performed. The postoperative period for THA is associated with severe pain. Severe pain can lead to increased opioid consumption, delayed ambulation, and delayed recovery, which may increase hospital length of stay and increase costs. This can be alleviated by lower peripheral regional anesthesia techniques such as the femoral nerve block (FNB) and the fascia iliac compartment block (FICB). These are the conventional approaches for effective opioid-sparing commonly administered for THA. Nonetheless, FNB and FICB may cause quadriceps motor weakness, and FICB may not provide adequate analgesia in the obturator and accessory obturator nerves. The pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block is a novel approach to reduce pain postoperatively and only blocks sensory innervation of the anterior hip capsule. The sensory nerves blocked include the femoral, obturator, and accessory obturator. Ultrasonography is used and an 80 mm echogenic needle is inserted between the muscular fascia of the psoas tendon and pubic ramus, and this area is injected with local anesthetic.</p> <p>How do postoperative outcomes after receiving a PENG block for patients having THA compare to the more conventional approaches?</p>