Efficacy of Fascia Iliaca Block Versus Intraoperative Nerve Infiltration During Anterior Hip Replacement Surgery

Enrolled subjects will receive FICB with 50cc of 0.3% ropivacaine. Blocks will be performed under ultrasound guidance with an in-plane technique by a single study investigator in the preoperative area. Although possible without ultrasound guidance, using this technique allows for identification of specific tissue planes and precise placement of medication near the nerves responsible for postoperative pain. Using ultrasound, the superficial fascial layer of the iliopsoas muscle is identified at the anterior edge of the ilium, and a needle is placed just beneath that fascia. A high volume of local anesthetic is then injected under ultrasound guidance, ensuring cephalad spread of medication in an attempt to provide anesthesia of the lateral femoral cutaneous, femoral and obturator nerves.

Enrolled subjects will receive FICB with 50cc of 0.3% ropivacaine. Blocks will be performed intra-operatively under direct surgeon visualization, in the operating room. Unlike other approaches to hip replacement, anterior repair allows for direct visualization of the fascial layers described above. This allows for direct injection of local anesthetic beneath this fascia, potentially obviating the need for preoperatively performed, ultrasound guided, FICB.