Preemptive Analgesia in Hip Arthroscopy: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Preemptive Periacetabular or Intra-articular Bupivacaine in Addition to Postoperative Intra-articular Bupivacaine

42 patients with femoroacetabular impingement and scheduled for arthroscopic intervention were randomized to preemptive analgesia with either periacetabular bupivacaine injection or intraarticular bupivacaine injection. Patients were assessed for pain within 30 minutes after release from the postanaesthesia care unit, and up to 18 hours after surgery. Following discharge, pain was assessed daily for the first 14 days after surgery. Results demonstrated significantly lower pain scores at 30 minutes and 18 hours after surgery in the periacetabular group compared to the intraarticular group, but not at any time point in between, or thereafter. Tramadol consumption within the PACU was also significantly lower in the periacetabular group compared to the intraarticular group.