Intra-articular hip injection found to exhibit a significant pre-operatory pain management among the patients intracapsular hip fractures, as per the investigators of the University of Turin, Italy. This study involved the comparison of the intra-articular hip injection and the fascia-iliaca compartment block to reduce pain and the use of supplementary systemic analgesia at the preoperative stage of intracapsular hip fractures.

A total of 120 patients of >65 years were randomized to either intra-articular hip injection group (n = 50) or the fascia-iliaca compartment block (n = 70). The pain alleviation at 20 min, 12 h, one and two days following the regional anaesthesia, both at rest and while internal rotation of the fractured limb was considered as the primary outcome. Pain assessment was done by using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). All patients went through a similar protocol to manage the residual pain. The Supplementary analgesic drug administration was recorded after 48 h from the administration.

The patients of IAHI group exhibited a considerable reduction in pain during movement of the fractured limb at 20 min, two h, one and two days. As compared to 28.6% of the IAHI group, 72.9% subjects of FICB group required Oxycodone with dose 4.38 ± 7.63 mg and 14.09 ± 11.57 mg, respectively. However, both groups exhibited no adverse events.

These finding illustrated that the intra-articular hip injection as a suitable approach to manage pain associated with intracapsular hip fractures among older people.