The Application of Fascia Iliaca Compartment Block for Acute Pain Control of Hip Fracture and Surgery

Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2021 Mar 11;25(4):22. doi: 10.1007/s11916-021-00940-9.

Abstract

Purpose of review: Over 300,000 patients are hospitalized annually following hip fractures in the USA. Many patients experienced inadequate analgesia. We will review the perioperative effects of the fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB) in hip fracture patients.

Recent findings: FICB by injecting local anesthetics beneath the fascia iliaca results in significant pain relief in hip fractures. Neuropathies and vascular injuries are almost unlikely. Single-shot FICB is faster to place, yet providing about 8 h of analgesia when bupivacaine is used. Continuous FICB provides prolonged titratable analgesia, improved patient satisfaction, and leads to faster hospital discharge. FICB reduces opioid consumption, decreases morbidity and mortality, reduces hospital stay, reduces delirium, and improves satisfaction. FICB should form part of a multimodal analgesic regime, in the context of a multidisciplinary approach to the management of hip fracture patients. More clinical investigations are needed to validate the long-term outcome benefits of FICB in hip fracture patients.

Keywords: Acute pain; Fascia iliaca compartment block; Hip fracture; Hip surgery.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acute Pain / drug therapy*
  • Acute Pain / physiopathology
  • Analgesics, Opioid / therapeutic use
  • Anesthesia, Conduction / methods*
  • Anesthetics, Local / therapeutic use*
  • Delirium / epidemiology
  • Fascia
  • Femoral Neck Fractures / physiopathology
  • Femoral Neck Fractures / surgery
  • Femoral Nerve
  • Hip Fractures / physiopathology
  • Hip Fractures / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Length of Stay / statistics & numerical data
  • Obturator Nerve
  • Pain Management / methods*
  • Pain, Postoperative / drug therapy*
  • Patient Satisfaction
  • Perioperative Care / methods*
  • Postoperative Complications / epidemiology
  • Psoas Muscles

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Anesthetics, Local