Using two types of ultrasound-guided nerve blocks to improve pain relief and recovery after hip replacement surgery in older adults
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN16348194 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN16348194 |
| Sponsor | Health Commission of Nantong City, Jiangsu Province |
| Funder | Health Commission of Nantong City, Jiangsu Province |
- Submission date
- 16/09/2026
- Registration date
- 18/09/2026
- Last edited
- 16/09/2026
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Overall study status
- Ongoing
- Condition category
- Surgery
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year
Plain English summary of protocol
Not provided at time of registration
Contact information
Dr Haixia Xue
Public
Public
No. 269 Dama Road, Rucheng Subdistrict, Rugao City
Nantong
226500
China
| Phone | +86 19825285895 |
|---|---|
| 746274122@qq.com |
Dr Yixing Zhang
Scientific
Scientific
No. 269 Dama Road, Rucheng Subdistrict, Rugao City
Nantong
226500
China
| Phone | +86 19825285895 |
|---|---|
| yxzhang12321@163.com |
Dr Binbin Zhang
Principal investigator
Principal investigator
No. 269 Dama Road, Rucheng Subdistrict, Rugao City
Nantong
226500
China
| Phone | +86 19825285895 |
|---|---|
| 710431392@qq.com |
Study information
| Primary study design | Observational |
|---|---|
| Observational study design | Case-control study |
| Scientific title | Ultrasound-guided pericapsular nerve group block combined with lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block for postoperative analgesia and functional recovery in elderly patients undergoing hip arthroplasty |
| Study objectives | To investigate the effects of ultrasound-guided pericapsular nerve group block (PENGB) combined with lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block (LFCNB) versus fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB) on postoperative analgesia and functional recovery in patients aged 80 or above undergoing hip arthroplasty. |
| Ethics approval(s) |
Approved 01/01/2026, Ethics Committee of Rugao Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (No. 269 Dama Road, Rucheng Subdistrict, Rugao City, Nantong, 226500, China; +86 87529132; rgszyyyb@163.com), ref: RGSZYYLL26004 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Hip arthroplasty |
| Methodology | A prospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 80 patients who underwent hip arthroplasty from January 2026 to September 2026. Patients were divided into two groups according to the nerve block analgesia protocol, the PENGB + LFCNB group and the LFCNB group, with 40 cases in each group. After admission to the operating room, intravenous access was established in all patients. Standard monitoring, including noninvasive blood pressure, electrocardiography, and pulse oxygen saturation, was routinely performed. All nerve block procedures were performed under strict aseptic conditions by a single anesthesiologist with more than 5 years of experience in ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia. The local anesthetic mixture was prepared using the same formulation in both groups: 30 mL of 0.33% ropivacaine hydrochloride injection (Shaanxi Bosun Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd., China; National Medical Products Administration approval No. H20244604) combined with 5 mg of dexamethasone (Fuding Kangle Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., China; National Medical Products Administration approval No. H34022768). Adding dexamethasone as an adjuvant to local anesthetics can prolong the duration of analgesia in peripheral nerve blocks. This combination regimen is based on previous studies on nerve blocks in hip arthroplasty [7]. PENGB + LFCNB group: Patients were placed in the supine position, and the skin was routinely disinfected. Using an Edge II ultrasound system (Sonosite, USA), a 2–5 MHz curvilinear transducer was initially placed over the anterior inferior iliac spine (AIIS) and oriented toward the superior pubic ramus. The iliopubic eminence, femoral artery, pectineus muscle, and psoas tendon were identified. Under an in-plane approach from lateral to medial, the needle was advanced, and 20 mL of the aforementioned anesthetic mixture was injected into the musculofascial plane between the posterior aspect of the psoas tendon and the superior pubic ramus to perform the pericapsular nerve group block (PENGB) for hip analgesia. Subsequently, the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) was identified within the fat pad located between the sartorius muscle and tensor fasciae latae muscle, inferior to the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS). A total of 5 mL of the anesthetic mixture was injected to perform the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block (LFCNB). FICB group: Patients were placed in the supine position, and the skin was routinely disinfected. Using the same ultrasound system, a high-frequency linear transducer was placed over the iliac fascia plane superior to the inguinal ligament to identify the iliac fascia, iliopsoas muscle, and femoral artery. Under an in-plane approach from lateral to medial, the needle was advanced until the tip reached the potential space between the iliac fascia and iliopsoas muscle. A single injection of 30 mL of the aforementioned anesthetic mixture was then administered to perform the fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB). |
| Intervention type | Drug/Device |
| Phase | Not Applicable |
| Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s) | Ultrasound-guided pericapsular nerve group block combined with lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block (PENGB + LFCNB); Ultrasound-guided fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB) |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
|
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) | |
| Completion date | 31/10/2026 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | |
|---|---|
| Age group | Senior |
| Lower age limit | 80 Years |
| Upper age limit | 98 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 100 |
| Total final enrolment | 80 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Age ≥ 80 years 2. Scheduled for total or hemi-hip arthroplasty 3. All patients underwent hip arthroplasty for the first time 4. American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classificationas grade II or III |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Presence of severe liver or kidney dysfunction 2. Abnormal coagulation function 3. Presence of severe cardiovascular disease (e.g., severe arrhythmia, heart failure) 4. Allergy to local anesthetics; presence of cognitive dysfunction or mental illness precluding assessment 5. Preoperative abnormal quadriceps muscle strength |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/02/2026 |
| Date of final enrolment | 30/09/2026 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- China
Study participating centres
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|
Editorial Notes
16/09/2026: Trial's existence confirmed by Ethics Committee of Rugao Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
