Fascia Iliaca Blocks for Pain Control After Total Hip Arthroplasty
Fascia Iliaca Blocks for Pain Control After Total Hip Arthroplasty
The fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB) is a regional block that anesthetizes the femoral,
 obturator, and lateral femoral cutaneous nerves around the hip. The purpose of this study is
 to determine whether FICB can reduce postoperative pain and increase progress with physical
 therapy after total hip arthroplasty (THA). This randomized, double-blind, clinical trial
 will randomize patients to receive either a FICB or placebo after THA. The primary outcomes
 will be pain scores reported by the patient post-operatively.
The FICB is a regional block that anesthetizes the femoral, obturator, and lateral femoral
 cutaneous nerves around the hip joint. There have been numerous study assessing it's ability
 to control pain in the pre and post operative period in patients with hip fractures. However,
 there is a limited amount of literature on its efficacy after total hip arthroplasty, and no
 data when a posterior surgical approach to the hip was utilized. Because regional blocks have
 been shown to decrease pain post operatively after total knee arthroplasty, we hypothesize
 that the FICB will decrease pain and narcotic use in patients after total hip arthroplasty.
 This study will aim to recruit 120 patients that will be randomized to receive a FICB or
 placebo in the recovery room within 30 minutes of leaving the OR. Once the intervention is
 complete we will collect data on the patients' pain levels, morphine equivalents of narcotic
 that they used, and how well they worked with physical therapy during their inpatient stay.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Patients over the age of 18

 -  Scheduled for total hip arthroplasty at Henry Ford Hospital

 -  Epidural anesthesia during surgery

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Pregnancy

 -  Known intolerance to local anesthetic or narcotics

 -  Revision hip surgery