scholarly journals MP024: Ultrasound-guided femoral nerve block versus fascia iliaca block for hip fractures in the emergency department: a randomized pilot study

CJEM ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (S1) ◽  
pp. S74-S74
Author(s):  
J. Chenkin ◽  
J.S. Lee ◽  
T. Bhandari ◽  
R. Simard

Introduction: Regional anesthesia has been shown to be an effective pain control strategy for patients presenting with hip fractures in the emergency department. There are two common methods for performing this block: the femoral nerve block (FNB) and the fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB). The objective of this pilot study is to determine whether one of these two ultrasound-guided block techniques provides superior analgesia to emergency department patients with hip fractures. Methods: Emergency physicians at a single institution were randomized to the FNB or FICB training groups. Participants completed a 2-hour practical workshop covering the technique, followed by a questionnaire to assess their comfort with the block. They were asked to perform their assigned nerve block on any patient in the ED presenting with a hip or femur fracture. Physician comfort level and patient pain scores using a visual analog scale (VAS) were recorded before and after the nerve block were recorded. Comparisons were performed using Student’s t-test and Fisher’s exact test. Results: A total of 20 physicians were enrolled in the study, 10 in the FNB group and 10 in the FICB group. There were no significant baseline differences between the groups with respect to ultrasound or nerve block experience. Following the training, 100% of participants in both the FNB group and FICB group felt comfortable performing the block. Nerve blocks were performed in 30/51 (58.8%) of eligible patients in the FNB group and 6/11 (54.5%) in the FICB group (p=1.0). On the 10-point VAS, pain scores decreased by a mean of 4.9 (SD 3.5) in the FNB group and 8.3 (SD 2.4) in the FICB group (p=0.056). In practice, physicians felt comfortable performing the FNB in 52.8% of cases, and the FICB in 85.7% of cases (p=0.21). Mean time to completion of the blocks was similar between the two groups (19 vs 18 mins, p=0.83). Conclusion: In this pilot study, we found a non-significant trend towards improved analgesia and higher physician comfort with the ultrasound-guided FICB compared with the FNB in patients with hip fractures. We found no differences in time to performing the blocks. These results require confirmation with a larger sample size.

Author(s):  
Jonathan P. Wyatt ◽  
Robert G. Taylor ◽  
Kerstin de Wit ◽  
Emily J. Hotton ◽  
Robin J. Illingworth ◽  
...  

This chapter in the Oxford Handbook of Emergency Medicine investigates analgesia and anaesthesia in the emergency department (ED). It looks at options for relieving pain, such as the analgesics aspirin, paracetamol, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), morphine and other opioids, Entonox®, and ketamine, and explores analgesia for trauma and other specific situations. It discusses local anaesthesia (LA) and local anaesthetic toxicity, including use of adrenaline (epinephrine) and general principles of local anaesthesia. It explores blocks such as Bier’s block, local anaesthetic nerve blocks, intercostal nerve block, digital nerve block, median and ulnar nerve blocks, radial nerve block at the wrist, dental anaesthesia, nerve blocks of the forehead and ear, fascia iliaca compartment block, femoral nerve block, and nerve blocks at the ankle. It examines sedation, including drugs for intravenous sedation and sedation in children, and discusses general anaesthesia in the emergency department, emergency anaesthesia and rapid sequence induction, difficult intubation, and general anaesthetic drugs.


2008 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 205-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
CA Graham ◽  
K Baird ◽  
AC McGuffie

Background Fractured neck of femur (NOF) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly. Published clinical guidelines suggest early adequate analgesia as a key management aim. The femoral nerve ‘3-in-1 block’ has previously been shown to provide effective analgesia for these patients in the peri- and post-operative phase of care. The aim of this study was to examine the use of the ‘3-in-1’ femoral nerve block as primary analgesia for patients with a fractured NOF presenting to the emergency department. Methods This was a single centre pragmatic randomised controlled open-label trial comparing femoral nerve block (using a ‘3-in-1’ technique) with intravenous (IV) morphine. A convenience sample of patients presenting to the emergency department of a district general hospital with a clinically or radiologically suspected fractured NOF were recruited. They were randomised to receive either 0.1 mg/kg IV bolus of morphine or a ‘3-in-1’ femoral nerve block with 30 ml of 0.5% plain bupivacaine. Visual analogue pain scores were noted prior to treatment and at 30 minutes, 2 hours, 6 hours and 12 hours after treatment. Immediate complications such as vascular puncture or the requirement for naloxone were noted. Results Forty patients were recruited, 22 patients were randomised to IV morphine and 18 patients were randomised to ‘3-in-1’ femoral nerve block. Complete data were available for 33 patients. There was no significant difference in initial median pain score (p=0.45). Analysis using the Wilcoxon test showed a significant decrease in pain score for the morphine group (p=0.01) and the nerve block group (p<0.01) at 30 minutes compared with baseline. Analysis using the Mann-Whitney U test between median pain scores at each time point showed a significant lower pain score in the nerve block group at 30 minutes (p=0.046). There were no immediate complications in either group. Conclusion Our results suggest that a ‘3-in-1’ femoral nerve block is at least as effective as IV morphine when used as primary analgesia for patients with fractured NOF. Our results suggest that the femoral nerve block may provide better analgesia at 30 minutes. Further larger scale randomised trials are warranted.


Author(s):  
Shiv Shanker Tripathi ◽  
Suruchi Ambasta ◽  
Swagat Mahapatra ◽  
Anurag Agarwal ◽  
Shivani Rastogi

Introduction: Fractures around the hip and fractures of the femur are commonly encountered in the Emergency Department (ED). Effective control of pain in these fractures is of critical importance for proper radiography, reduction and splintage. Traditionally, systemic analgesics have been used for pain relief which had its own limitations both in terms of pain relief and relaxation. Use of Femoral Nerve Block (FNB) in acute fractures around the hip and femur has been a challenge and, evaluation of this procedure has been the subject of research recently in ED. Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of FNB in decreasing pain and anxiety in acute fractures of the femur. Materials and Methods: Prospective interventional study was conducted at a tertiary care centre with well-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Eighty four patients with fractures around the hip, fractures of the shaft and distal femur underwent ultrasound guided FNB for performance of retrieval procedures. Visual analog scale (VAS) score for pain and Hamilton Anxiety Score (HAM-A) score for anxiety were used as parameter both for pre and postblock to assess the effectiveness. Subjective assessment of the patients comfort level was also done. Statistical analysis of all data obtained was done using SPSS 21.0. Results: Study group (n=84) included in the evaluation were homogenous in terms of age and sex distribution. The mean±SD VAS score preoperatively was 72.93±10.91. At 30 minutes and 4 hours postblock,the mean±SD VAS scores were 18.65±5.25 and 13.88±6.05, respectively. There was statistically significant difference in VAS score at 30 minutes (p=0.004) and 4 hours (p=0.015). The mean Hamilton Anxiety score at preblock and 4 hour postblock was 27.05±5.94 and 8.07±3.7, respectively. The overall HAM-A score comparison showed that there was statistically significant change after 4 hours postblock (p=0.013) showing significant decrease in anxiety levels. All patients were satisfied by the comfort and ease of shifting after block. Intergroup analysis of fractures around the hip (Neck femur, Trochanter) and fractures of the shaft (Shaft femur and distal femur) revealed equal efficacy of the femoral block. Conclusion: Ultrasound guided FNB is an easy and safe means of providing pain and anxiety relief to patients with the fracture of the femur (neck femur, per-trochanteric femur, shaft femur or distal femur) in the ED. At the same time, it decreases the need of systemic analgesia.


2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Ajmal ◽  
Susan Power ◽  
Tim Smith ◽  
George D. Shorten

CJEM ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (S1) ◽  
pp. S31
Author(s):  
J. Ringaert ◽  
J. Broughton ◽  
M. Pauls ◽  
I. Laxdal ◽  
N. Ashmead

Introduction: Approximately 30,000 hip fractures occur annually in Canada, and the incidence will increase with an aging population. Pain control remains a challenge with these patients, as many are elderly and prone to delirium. Regional anesthesia has shown to be very effective with minimal risks, but it is not clear how often emergency physicians are using this technique to provide analgesia for patients with proximal hip fractures. This is the first Canada-wide survey to evaluate the use of regional anaesthesia in the emergency department for hip fractures. It also evaluates physician comfort level with performing these blocks, perceived educational needs in this area, and barriers to performing nerve blocks. Methods: A 13-question survey was sent to 1041 members of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians via email in January and February of 2016. Data was collected and analysed using an online collection program called “Survey Monkey”. Ethics approval was obtained through the University of Manitoba Research Ethics Board. Results: 272 Emergency physicians and residents took part in the survey. The majority of respondents (75.9%) choose intravenous opioids as their first line of analgesia and only 7.6% use peripheral nerve blocks (PNB) as their first line choice for analgesia in hip fracture. In response to practitioner comfort with PNBs for hip fractures, most were not at all confident (45.0%) in their ability and many respondents have never performed a nerve block for a hip fracture (53.9%). The most commonly identified barriers to performing PNBs include lack of training, the time to perform the procedure and a lack of confidence. A larger percentage of respondents (34.2%), identified having had no training and no knowledge of how to perform PNBs for hip fractures. Conclusion: The vast majority of Canadian emergency physicians who took part in this survey do not utilize PNBs as a method of pain management for hip fractures. Over half have never performed one of these procedures and many have never received training in how to do so. Future efforts should focus on improving access to education, disseminating information regarding the effectiveness of PNB, and addressing logistical barriers in the ED.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 97
Author(s):  
Jen Heng Pek ◽  
Wen Jie Dennis Chia ◽  
Sathya Kaliannan ◽  
Yin Theng Wong ◽  
Kim Poh Chan

Aims: Patients with hip fracture are often not given adequate analgesia in the Emergency Department. Ultrasound guided femoral nerve block is an effective option but it is not commonly used due to limited experience, inadequate training and infrequent clinical exposure. We aimed to develop a workshop to bridge the current gap in the training of ultrasound guided femoral nerve block.Material and methods: A 3-hour workshop was developed in accordance to guidelines for education and training in ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia. The components included an online learning module for pre-reading, as well as team-based learning and simulation practice during the session. Evaluation of the participants was performed and feedbackof the course was collected.Results: The workshop was conducted successfully for a total of 30 participants. All participants achieved the minimum standard required. Across all domains, the mean scores for the workshop were more than 4.7 out of 5 on the Likert scale. Participants were satisfied with the workshop and would recommend it to a colleague.Conclusion: This workshop met its educational objectives and various principles of medical education were used effectively in the delivery of the content. Further research is necessary to demonstrate the impact of this educational effort on clinical practice and patient outcomes.


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