Comparison of Suprainguinal Fascia Iliaca Nerve Block and Epidural Analgesia in Patients Undergoing Periacetabular Osteotomy

Abstract

Introduction: Adequate pain control and early mobilization are critical in the postoperative period after periacetabular osteotomy (PAO). Regional anesthesia can reduce postoperative pain, but certain techniques can increase the risk of postoperative motor block and delayed functional recovery. Continuous lumbar epidurals can provide excellent analgesia but also create challenges with early ambulation. Recently, suprainguinal fascia iliaca (SIFI) single-shot blocks have been shown to provide effective analgesia in PAO patients. The goal of this study was to compare opioid use, time to achieve inpatient physical therapy (PT) goals, and length of stay (LOS) between a cohort of patients receiving SIFI blocks and a cohort of patients receiving epidural analgesia (EA).

Methods: This retrospective single-surgeon comparative cohort study included all patients who underwent a PAO between 2012 and 2022. Regional anesthetic technique (SIFI vs EA), length of hospital stay, intraoperative and postoperative opioid use, pain scores, and time to achievement of PT milestones before discharge were recorded. Patients were excluded if they had any preexisting neuromuscular syndrome or neurosensory deficit. All opioid use was converted to morphine-milligram equivalents using standard conversions.

Results: Two hundred four surgeries were done over the study period; 164 patients received EA, and 40 received a SIFI block. The average age of our cohort was 19.5 years (±6 yrs). The SIFI cohort had a significantly shorter mean LOS than the EA cohort (2.9 vs 4.1 days, P < 0.001). Patients in the SIFI cohort achieved all PT ambulation goals significantly sooner than the lumbar epidural group ( P < 0.001), with lower total opioid use on each postoperative day. No notable differences were observed in sex, race, BMI, or pain scores at inpatient PT visits before discharge.

Conclusion: After PAO surgery, the SIFI block is associated with shorter hospital LOS, reduced postoperative opioid use, and earlier mobilization when compared with those who were managed with an epidural.