Analgesic Comparison of PENG/LFCN to FICB for Total Hip Arthroplasty

Analgesic Comparison of Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) Block and Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve (LFCN) Block to Fascia Iliaca Compartment Block (FICB) in Patients Undergoing Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA).

This study compares 2 commonly used interventions (regional pain blocks) used in hip arthroplasty for pain control. One of the interventions is newer and not widely established.

This study will compare the FICB to the PENG/LFCN blocks. Patient reported pain scores on a verbal numeric rating scale will be utilized and recorded in the PACU and postoperatively at 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 36 and 48 hours after patient arrival in the PACU. Additionally, opioid consumption will be converted to morphine milliequivalents and compared between groups.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Eligibility criteria for the study were: age 40-80, Physical Status I-III, BMI less than 40 kg/m2, ability to read and speak English, able to sign their own consent form and undergoing elective primary total hip arthroplasty.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients were excluded if they were chronically prescribed opioids for a condition unrelated to their surgical hip pain, were deemed Physical Status 4 or higher, had an ongoing coagulopathy, had any infection near the site of injection, had an allergy to local anesthetics, deemed to have diabetic neuropathy, deemed to have a contraindication to spinal anesthesia or were unable to report their pain scores reliably (as in severe dementia or similar).