Transmuscular Quadratus Lumborum and Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve Block in Total Hip Arthroplasty

Abstract

Objectives: Adequate pain control after total hip arthroplasty is essential for patient satisfaction and surgical outcome.

Methods: A retrospective study with before and after design was performed in 210 elective total hip arthroplasty patients. The control group (N=132) received spinal anesthesia with periarticular injection (PAI) and the treatment group (N=78) received transmuscular quadratus lumborum block and lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block in addition to spinal anesthesia and PAI. The primary outcome was visual analog scale (VAS) pain score on postoperative day (POD) 1, and secondary outcomes included VAS and opioid consumption on each POD, hospitalization cost, length of stay, and discharge acuity.

Results: The mean VAS and opioid consumption (MME) were significantly lower in the treatment group than that in the control group on POD 1, with VAS difference -1.10 (95% confidence interval, -1.64 to -0.55), false discover rate corrected (P<0.001), and MME difference -26.19 (95% confidence interval, -39.16 to -13.23, P<0.001). A significant difference was also found for both VAS (P=0.007) and opioid consumption (P=0.018) on POD 2 and for opioid consumption on POD 3 (P=0.008). Length of stay (days) in the control group versus the treatment group was 2.50±1.38 versus 1.36±0.95 (P=0.002), and the total cost of hospitalization was over 20% higher in the control group than that in the treatment group (P=0.002).

Discussion: The addition of transmuscular quadratus lumborum and lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block in total hip arthroplasty provides improved analgesia indicated by lower pain scores and opioid reduction and accelerated recovery with shorter hospitalization and decreased hospitalization cost.