Although suprainguinal fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB) and periarticular infiltration (PAI) provides similar pain relief, the former is associated with muscle weakness at 6 hours, as depicted in a recent study published in 'Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine'.

Earlier studies have proved that FICB provides excellent pain relief in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA). But, the analgesic efficacy of FICB, in comparison with PAI for THA, has not been investigated. Irina Gasanova et al. designed the randomized, controlled, observer-blinded study to distinguish suprainguinal FICB (SFICB) with PAI in patients undergoing THA using the posterior approach.Total 60 consenting patients scheduled for elective THA were randomized to either of the two groups, namely: ultrasound-guided SFICB block or PAI after the institutional review board approval. The local anaesthetic solution for both the groups comprised of 60 mL ropivacaine 300 mg and epinephrine 150 µg. The rest of the aspects of perioperative care, like the general anaesthetic and non-opioid multimodal analgesia techniques, were standardized. One of the study investigators blinded to group allocation documented pain scores at rest and with movement and supplemental opioid requirements at different time points. The patients were examined for sensory changes and quadriceps weakness in the operated extremity.It was found that there were no differences between the groups concerning demographics, intraoperative opioid use, duration of surgery, recovery room stay, nausea scores, need for rescue antiemetics, time to ambulation and time to discharge readiness and also the 48 hours postoperative opioid requirements. At all time points, the pain scores at rest and with movement also were alike. After the surgery, significantly more patients in the SFICB group complained of muscle weakness at 6 hours.