Comparison of Femoral Nerve Block and Combined PENG Plus Femoral Nerve Block in Geriatric Hip Surgery

Hip fracture surgery in geriatric patients is frequently associated with severe perioperative pain, which may complicate positioning for spinal anesthesia and increase perioperative opioid requirements. Regional analgesic techniques are commonly used to improve patient comfort and reduce opioid consumption in this vulnerable population. The femoral nerve block is a well-established method for analgesia in hip surgery, while the pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block has emerged as a novel technique targeting articular branches of the hip joint with potential advantages in pain control.

This prospective randomized controlled trial aims to compare the analgesic efficacy of femoral nerve block alone versus a combined pericapsular nerve group (PENG) plus femoral nerve block in geriatric patients undergoing hip fracture surgery under spinal anesthesia. The primary outcomes include perioperative pain intensity, opioid consumption within the first 24 hours postoperatively, and the need for additional analgesia during positioning for spinal anesthesia. Secondary outcomes include spinal anesthesia procedure duration, time to sensory block onset, time to first postoperative opioid requirement, and perioperative hemodynamic parameters.

The results of this study are expected to clarify whether the addition of the PENG block to femoral nerve block provides superior perioperative analgesia and improved patient comfort compared with femoral nerve block alone in geriatric hip fracture surgery.