Study Summary

55 adults presenting to the emergency department with radiologically confirmed hip fracture were enrolled for this study. Patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either ultrasound-guided fascia iliaca compartment block (UG-FICB) with weight-adjusted levobupivacaine or volume-matched saline placebo. One patient in each group was excluded, resulting in 53 patients included in the final analysis. The primary outcome of interest was cumulative intravenous morphine demand during the first 6 hours, measured objectively via patient-controlled analgesia pump logs. Secondary outcomes included pain intensity measured by numerical rating scale, time to first morphine request, proportion of patients remaining opioid-free, and adverse events. Outcomes were assessed from block administration until surgery or 24 hours, whichever occurred first. Overall, the results of the study revealed that ultrasound-guided fascia iliaca compartment block did not reduce cumulative morphine consumption within 6 hours compared with placebo, but delayed first opioid request and increased the proportion of patients who remained opioid-free.