Editorial Commentary: The Addition of the Pericapsular Nerve Group Block Leads to Reduced Pain Up to 24 Hours After Hip Arthroscopy

Abstract

Surgeons performing hip arthroscopy (HA) continue to look for solutions to address immediate postoperative pain and achieve a safe and efficient same-day discharge. Multiple studies have looked at modalities to achieve this, and we have learned that some methods are successful whereas others have a high-risk profile and should be avoided. The pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block is at the forefront of the literature. The PENG block is an easy-to-perform pericapsular nerve block that has been shown in prospective and retrospective studies to decrease acute postoperative pain. With modern ultrasound techniques, the PENG block has a short learning curve and acceptable patient safety profile. Other regional blocks have been extensively studied and are not without their drawbacks. Neuraxial anesthesia has shown decreased pain after HA but carries the risk of neuraxial complications and ambulatory discharge delay. Quadratus lumborum, lumbar plexus, and femoral nerve blocks can impact muscle strength and carry the risk of falls. Fascia iliaca blocks have shown the potential for increased pain and have been abandoned. The PENG block has been shown to be safe, but there are risks of inadvertent femoral nerve block if the probe or needle is out of plane. The PENG block does not seem to be the only answer to controlling post-HA pain but is one more weapon in our armamentarium to treat acute postoperative pain. Our current multimodal HA protocol consists of intravenous ketorolac, a PENG block, general endotracheal anesthesia, 4 mg of dexamethasone, 25 mg of ketamine at induction and 25 mg of ketamine slowly infused throughout the case, and post-free HA. We have a 100% same-day discharge rate, with no reported block complications and no groin complications, and for us, this method has proved to decrease the time to discharge.