PENG Block vs Suprainguinal FICB vs Lumbar ESPB for Analgesia After Hip Surgery

Official title

A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Controlled Trial Comparing the Analgesic Efficacy and Motor-Sparing Properties of the Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) Block, Suprainguinal Fascia Iliaca Compartment Block (S-FICB), and Lumbar Erector Spinae Plane Block (L-ESPB) in Patients Undergoing Hip Arthroplasty

Overview

This randomized, double-blinded, controlled clinical trial compares three motor-sparing regional anesthesia techniques used for postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing hip arthroplasty: the Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) block, the suprainguinal Fascia Iliaca Compartment Block (S-FICB), and the Lumbar Erector Spinae Plane Block (L-ESPB). Although all three techniques are widely used in modern hip surgery, their relative analgesic efficacy, opioid-sparing potential, and impact on early functional recovery have not been directly compared in a single study. The primary objective is to determine which block provides the most effective postoperative analgesia while preserving motor function and facilitating early mobilization. Secondary objectives include comparisons of opioid consumption, pain scores at rest and during movement, time to first rescue analgesia, block-related adverse events, quadriceps strength, incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, and early functional outcomes. This study aims to identify the optimal motor-sparing regional anesthesia strategy for older adults undergoing hip arthroplasty.

Detailed description

Regional anesthesia plays a key role in modern multimodal analgesia for hip arthroplasty, particularly in older adults who are vulnerable to opioid-related adverse effects and postoperative functional decline. Several motor-sparing nerve block techniques have been developed to improve postoperative pain control while maintaining quadriceps strength and enabling early mobilization. Among them, the Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) block, the suprainguinal Fascia Iliaca Compartment Block (S-FICB), and the Lumbar Erector Spinae Plane Block (L-ESPB) are widely used in clinical practice. However, no randomized clinical trial has directly compared these three approaches within a single study population.

The PENG block targets the articular branches of the femoral, obturator, and accessory obturator nerves, providing selective analgesia of the anterior hip capsule with minimal motor involvement. The suprainguinal FICB delivers a higher spread of local anesthetic over the femoral nerve, lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, and variable portions of the obturator nerve, offering broader sensory coverage but with a higher likelihood of quadriceps weakness. The lumbar ESPB is a posterior fascial plane block that may achieve indirect spread toward the lumbar plexus, potentially providing balanced anterior and posterior capsular analgesia while preserving motor function.

This randomized, double-blinded, three-arm controlled trial aims to compare the analgesic effectiveness, opioid-sparing properties, and motor-sparing characteristics of PENG, S-FICB, and L-ESPB in patients undergoing hip arthroplasty. All participants will receive standardized spinal anesthesia and multimodal postoperative analgesia. The study's primary endpoint is the time to first rescue opioid administration. Secondary outcomes include total postoperative opioid consumption, pain scores at rest and during movement, quadriceps muscle strength, block performance time, incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, early mobilization parameters, and block-related adverse events.

The results of this trial are expected to clarify the relative benefits and limitations of the three most commonly used motor-sparing regional anesthesia techniques for hip surgery and to guide optimal selection of blocks for enhanced recovery pathways in older adults undergoing hip arthroplasty.

Interventions

• Procedure Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) Block
  The Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) block will be performed under ultrasound guidance using a curvilinear or linear transducer. A 22-gauge echogenic needle will be advanced in-plane toward the fascial plane between the iliopsoas tendon and the pelvic brim at the level of the anterior inferior iliac spine. A total of 20 mL of 0.2% ropivacaine will be injected incrementally with repeated aspiration to avoid intravascular injection. No additional peripheral nerve blocks will be performed. All patie
• Procedure Suprainguinal Fascia Iliaca Compartment Block (S-FICB)
  The suprainguinal fascia iliaca compartment block will be performed under ultrasound guidance using a high-frequency linear probe placed in the sagittal oblique plane above the inguinal ligament. After identifying the fascia iliaca above the iliacus muscle, a 22-gauge echogenic needle will be advanced in-plane into the suprainguinal fascia iliaca space. A total of 30 mL of 0.2% ropivacaine will be injected to achieve cranial spread toward the femoral nerve, lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, and o
• Procedure Lumbar Erector Spinae Plane Block (L-ESPB)
  The lumbar erector spinae plane block will be performed under ultrasound guidance at the L4 transverse process level. A curvilinear or linear ultrasound probe will be used to identify the erector spinae muscle and underlying transverse process. A 22-gauge echogenic needle will be inserted in-plane and advanced to the fascial plane deep to the erector spinae muscle and superficial to the transverse process. A total of 20 mL of 0.2% ropivacaine will be injected incrementally. No sacral ESPB will b

Primary outcome measures

• Total Opioid Consumption in the First 48 Hours After Surgery [Time frame: 0-48 hours postoperatively]

Secondary outcome measures (12)

• Time to First Rescue Opioid Administration [Time frame: 0-48 hours postoperatively]
• Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) Pain Scores at Rest [Time frame: 4 hours postoperatively]
• Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) Pain Scores at Rest [Time frame: 8 hours postoperatively]
• Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) Pain Scores at Rest [Time frame: 12 hours postoperatively]
• Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) Pain Scores at Rest [Time frame: 24 hours postoperatively]
• Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) Pain Scores at Rest [Time frame: 48 hours postoperatively]
• Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) Pain Scores During Movement [Time frame: 4 hours postoperatively]
• Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) Pain Scores During Movement [Time frame: 8 hours postoperatively]
• Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) Pain Scores During Movement [Time frame: 12 hours postoperatively]
• Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) Pain Scores During Movement [Time frame: 24 hours postoperatively]
• Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) Pain Scores During Movement [Time frame: 48 hours postoperatively]
• Quadriceps Muscle Strength [Time frame: 4 hours postoperatively]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

• Adults aged 65 years or older scheduled to undergo elective hip arthroplasty under spinal anesthesia.
• Ability to provide written informed consent.
• Ability to understand and reliably use numerical pain assessment tools (NRS 0-10).
• ASA physical status II-III.
• Expected postoperative hospitalization of at least 48 hours to ensure complete data collection.

Exclusion criteria

• Inability to provide informed consent due to cognitive impairment, language barrier, or severe hearing/speech limitations.
• Coagulopathy or therapeutic anticoagulation not meeting safety criteria for regional anesthesia.
• Local infection at the planned block site.
• Allergy, hypersensitivity, or contraindication to ropivacaine, local anesthetics, or study medications.
• Pre-existing lower-limb neurological deficits (motor or sensory) affecting outcome assessments.
• Severe spinal deformity or anatomical limitations preventing safe performance of regional blocks.
• Chronic opioid use (defined as >30 mg oral morphine equivalents daily for more than 2 weeks).
• Severe renal failure (eGFR <30 mL/min/1.73m²) or severe hepatic impairment.
• Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (fasting glucose >300 mg/dL or HbA1c >10%).
• History of local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST).
• Participation in another interventional clinical trial within the past 30 days.
• Any condition deemed by investigators to interfere with protocol adherence, safety monitoring, or outcome reliability.

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation

Randomized

Model

Parallel assignment

Masking

Quadruple blind

Primary purpose

Treatment

Study locations

Poland · 1 center

• Poznan University of Medical Sciences — Poznan

Identifiers

NCT: NCT07288983 · 14/2025

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗