Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Jul 1;18(1):114.
doi: 10.1186/s12245-025-00922-3.

Ultrasound-guided training on Fascia Iliaca Compartment Block and Pericapsular Nerve Group Block for 5th -year medical students using soft cadavers

Jiraporn Sri-On  1 , Worawit Vanichkulbodee  2 , Thitarat Worawiwat  3 , Kulwiwat Pakjilayuwat  4 , Alissara Vanichkulbodee  3 , Pacharee Piyachan  3 , Shan Woo Liu  5
Affiliations

Ultrasound-guided training on Fascia Iliaca Compartment Block and Pericapsular Nerve Group Block for 5th -year medical students using soft cadavers

Jiraporn Sri-On et al. Int J Emerg Med. .

Abstract

Background: Ultrasound-guided Fascia Iliaca Compartment Block (FICB) and Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) Block are effective, non-addictive pain management methods for older adults with hip fractures. To address the opioid adverse events such as delirium, alternative pain management techniques are essential. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a hands-on ultrasound-guided workshop in improving medical students' competence in performing FICB and PENG blocks.

Methods: A one-group pretest-posttest design involving 72 participants was employed. Fifth-year medical students enrolled in a geriatric medicine rotation participated in a half-day workshop comprising theoretical instruction and hands-on ultrasound practice using soft cadavers. Competency (ultrasound images, indications and contraindications, and performance on cadaver) was assessed by an emergency physician trained in ultrasound-guided nerve block.

Results: A total of 72 participants were enrolled to our study. The ability to identify anatomy via ultrasound image improved significantly (mean score before training: 0.9/5 points ± 0.8, mean score after training: 4.0/5 points ± 1.2, mean difference (95%CI): 3.1 (2.9 to 3.4), p < 0.001). Confidence in identifying landmarks and performing FICB and PENG blocks also improved significantly (mean score before training: 0.6/5 points Likert Scale ± 0.8, mean score after training: 3.5/5 points Likert Scale ± 0.9, p < 0.001). The total performance score after training significantly improved, with a mean score 20.3/24 points.

Conclusions: Medical students can acquire the skills to perform ultrasound-guided PENG and FICB blocks for hip fractures in older adults through targeted teaching sessions. These findings support the inclusion of PENG and FICB blocks in medical curricula or any geriatric rotation focused on pain management.

Keywords: Fascia Iliaca Compartment Block; Medical education; Pericapsular Nerve Group Block; Ultrasound-guided nerve block.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The study was approved by the hospital’s Institutional Review Board (IRB), COA number 049/2567. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Scatter plot for total Knowledge score and landmark identifications pre and post training
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. Veronese N, Maggi S. Epidemiology and social costs of hip fracture. Injury. 2018;49:1458–60. 10.1016/j.injury.2018.04.015. - PubMed
    1. Zis P, Daskalaki A, Bountouni I, Sykioti P, Varrassi G, Paladini A. Depression and chronic pain in the elderly: links and management challenges. Clin Interv Aging. 2017;12:709–20. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Khalid S, Sambamoorthi U, Umer A, Lilly CL, Gross DK, Innes KE. Increased odds of incident Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in presence of common non-cancer chronic pain conditions in Appalachian older adults. J Aging Health. 2022;34(2):158–72. - PubMed
    1. Lohman MC, Whiteman KL, Greenberg RL, Bruce ML. Incorporating persistent pain in phenotypic frailty measurement and prediction of adverse health outcomes. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2017;72(2):216–22. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Chen Q, Hayman LL, Shmerling RH, Bean JF, Leveille SG. Characteristics of chronic pain associated with sleep difficulty in older adults: the Maintenance of Balance, Independent Living, Intellect, and Zest in the Elderly (MOBILIZE) Boston study. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2011;59(8):1385–92. - PMC - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources