Riassunto dello studio

Ninety-seven patients who sustained a low-energy fall and undergoing hip fracture surgery were randomized to receive either a peri-operative fascia iliaca block (FIB; n=57) or a control (n=40). The primary outcomes of interest were VAS pain scores, morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs), effects of opiate consumption, postoperative ambulatory distance at 72 hours, and block-associated complications. Secondary outcomes included the following: postoperative complications, opioid-related complications, length of stay, and discharge disposition. The results revealed that VAS scores, MME, ambulation, and length of hospital stay were not statistically significantly different between the FIB group and control. However, a significantly higher proportions of patients in the FIB group were discharged home compared to the control group (50.9% vs. 32.5%, p = 0.05). Furthermore, there were no differences in opioid-related, block-related, or post-operative complications between the FIB and control groups.