Single Shot Fascia Iliaca Block vs Femoral Nerve Block for Analgesia for Surgical Fixation of Hip Fractures

A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Single Shot Fascia Iliaca Block With Femoral Nerve Block for Analgesia Following Surgical Fixation of Hip Fractures

Hip fractures are common in our elderly population and is associated with pain before and after surgery. The current pain management for patients who have undergone surgery for hip fractures include a combination of oral painkillers, opioids (eg morphine) and regional anaesthesia techniques, which involves the injection of local anaesthetic drugs near nerves supplying the hip joint to numb the operation site. As opioids have many side effects, especially in the elderly patients, regional anaesthesia techniques can help to reduce the use of opioids and the related side effects. This may enhance their recovery and length of hospital stay

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients scheduled for surgical fixation of hip fracture
• Patients with isolated inter-trochantric fracture
• American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status 1 to 3
• Patients who are able to give their own consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients unable to give consent or inability to communicate/ cooperate
• Patients with regular consumption of strong opioids (morphine, oxycodone) or steroids
• Patients with allergy to local anaesthetics or any drugs included in the study
• Patients with contraindications to spinal anaesthesia such as coagulation disorders/ thrombocytopenia and local infection at site of injection