Efficacy of fascia iliaca compartment nerve block as part of multimodal analgesia after surgery for femoral bone fracture

BACKGROUND: Fascia iliaca compartment nerve block (FICNB) has been an established technique for postoperative analgesia after surgery for femoral bone fracture. FICNB is technically easy, effective for postoperative pain control after operation for femoral bone fracture and decreases the complications induced by systemic analgesic drugs. The severity of postoperative pain is affected by genetics, cultural and social factors across the world. In this study we assessed the efficacy of fascia iliaca compartment nerve block when it is used as part of multimodal analgesia after surgery for femoral bone fracture. METHODS: An institution-based case control study was conducted from September, 2013 to May, 2014. All patients who had been operated on under spinal anesthesia for femoral bone fracture were included. The patients divided into a FICNB group (n=20) and a control group (n=20). The FICNB group was given 30 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine at the end of the operation. Postoperative pain was assessed within the first 24 hours, i.e. at 15 minutes, 2 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours and 24 hours using 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS), total analgesic consumption, and the time for the first analgesic request. RESULTS: VAS pain scores were reduced within the first 24 hours after operation in the FICNB group compared wtih the control group. VAS scores at 2 hours were taken as median values (IQR) 0.00 (0.00) vs.18.00 (30.00), P=0.001; at 6 hours 0.00 (0.00) vs. 34.00 (20.75), P=0.000; at 24 hours 12.50 (10.00) vs. 31.50 (20.75), P=0.004; and at 12 hours (17.80 +/- 12.45) vs. (29.95 +/- 12.40), P=0.004, respectively. The total analgesic consumption of diclofenac at 12 and 24 hours was reduced in the FICNB group, and the time for the first analgesic request was significantly prolonged (417.50 vs. 139.25 minutes, P=0.000). CONCLUSIONS: A single injection for FICNB could lead to postoperative pain relief, reduction of total analgesic consumption and prolonged time for the first analgesic request in the FICNB group after surgery for femoral bone fracture. We recommend FICNB for analgesia after surgery for femoral bone fracture and for patients with femoral bone fracture at the emergency department.