As per a study published in 'Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research', the Fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB) could effectively reduce pain intensity up to 24 hours, total morphine consumption, and length of hospital stay in total hip arthroplasty (THA) patients. FICB is already known as an analgesic option for THA patients, although with a minimal amount of evidence.

Xiao-yan Zhang and Jian-bao Ma examined the FICB for pain control in THA patients in this meta-analysis. Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Chinese Wanfang database were searched from their initiation to December 15, 2018.  The data in the form of RCT (Randomised Clinical Trials) studies in the form of full text, abstracts only as well as unpublished data was taken into consideration.
The meta-analysis encompassed 8 RCTs. FICB significantly decreased VAS pain scores at 1–8 hours, 12 hours and 24 hours as compared to the placebo. Besides, the duration of hospital stay and the occurrence of nausea was significantly reduced in the FICB group compared to the control. VAS pain score at 48 hours and risk of fall was not improved in the FICB group compared to control.

"Optimal strategies of FICB need to be studied in the future, " concluded the investigators of the study.