PERICAPSULAR NERVE GROUP REGIONAL BLOCK: IMPACT ON POSTOPERATIVE ANALGESIA AND RECOVERY IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING HIP JOINT SURGERIES UNDER SPINAL ANESTHESIA

Abstract

Background: The hip surgeries (total hip arthroplasty) and other surgeries are linked with important postoperative pain that may slow down the process of mobilization and recovery. PENG block is a relatively new regional anesthesia method that is aimed at offering good analgesia without affecting motor activity. Nevertheless, the data about its effectiveness is still contradictory, especially in the local populations.

Objective: To compare the results of PENG block and control in patients who are subjected to hip joint surgeries with the use of spinal anesthesia.

Methodology: This is a non-randomized controlled trial that took place in the Department of Anesthesia, DHQ Hospital, Gujranwala during June 2025 and September 2025. Sixty patients (30 to 70 years of age, ASA I-II) who received hip surgery under spinal anesthesia were enrolled with the help of consecutive sampling. The patients were divided into two groups: Group A was given 20 ml of 0.125% bupivacaine in PENG block and Group B was given no block. The Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) was used to measure pain at various intervals in 24 hours. Primary outcomes included pain score, need for opioid, and time to first opioid consumption. The SPSS v25 was used to analyze data with a significant p value of 0.05.

Result: The mean pain score of patients using PENG block was lower at 6, 12 and 24 hours after surgery than controls (p<0.05). The PENG group had a lower need of opioid analgesia (about 70% vs. 95%), and the time to first opioid requirement was much longer (about 11-13 hours vs. 5-7 hours; p<0.05).

Conclusion: PENG block is a better analgesic agent, decreases opioid use, and extends time to first analgesic request in patients undergoing hip surgeries under spinal anesthesia. It is a good motor-sparing pain treatment method that is appropriate to use in enhanced recovery regimes.