Pericapsular nerve group block versus fascia iliaca block for perioperative analgesia in hip fracture surgery: a prospective randomized trial

The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of the pericapsular nerve group block (PENG) versus the supra-inguinal fascia iliaca compartment block (SI-FICB) to improve analgesia during positioning for spinal anesthesia (SA) for hip fracture surgery. We conducted a prospective randomized clinical trial involving patients who will undergo hip fracture surgery under SA and randomized into two groups: the PENG group: patients who received PENG block with 10 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine and 10 ml of 2% lidocaine and the SI-FICB group: patients who received SI-FICB block with the same solution. Our primary outcome was the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score at positioning for SA. Secondary outcomes were VAS after the block, the ease of spinal positioning (EOSP), the time to perform the block, the postoperative morphine consumption, and the VAS score at the 3rd, 6th, 12th, and 24th postoperative hours. Eighty-nine patients were enrolled and randomized into two groups: 44 in the PENG group and 45 in the SI-FICB group. The time of block performance was comparable in both groups (p = 0.195). There was a significant decrease in pain scores in the 2 groups, 20 min after the blocks at rest and while positioning for SA. PENG block provided better analgesia than SI-FICB block at positioning (P=0.046) with no significant difference in the ease of positioning (p=0.328). The morphine consumption was comparable in the 2 groups (p = 0.842). There was no significant difference in VAS scores at the 3rd, 6th, 12th, and 24th postoperative hours with p respectively 0.061, 0.767, 0.198, and 0.130. Both PENG and SI-FICB blocks provided adequate perioperative analgesia with the superiority of the PENG block in the sitting position for SA.