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Posterior hip pericapsular neurolysis (PHPN) for inoperable hip fracture: an adjunct to anterior hip pericapsular neurolysis
  1. Tony Kwun-tung Ng1,2,3,
  2. Philip Peng4 and
  3. Wing-sang Chan5
  1. 1 Department of Anaesthesia and Operating Theatre Services, Tuen Mun Hospital, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong
  2. 2 Center for Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
  3. 3 Department of Anaesthesiology, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
  4. 4 Anesthesia, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  5. 5 Frankston Pain Management, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  1. Correspondence to Dr Tony Kwun-tung Ng, Department of Anaesthesia and Operating Theatre Services, Tuen Mun Hospital, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong; tonyktng{at}gmail.com

Abstract

Background The development of anterior hip neurolysis has made an appreciable impact on the management of patients with inoperable hip fracture. Nonetheless, suboptimal analgesic benefit was still observed in some patients. We therefore developed a novel posterior hip pericapsular neurolysis (PHPN) to complement anterior hip neurolysis in inoperable hip fracture.

Methods In this retrospective review, we analyzed patients who responded suboptimally (defined as composite pain score moderate or higher on hip flexion 80°) to the anterior hip neurolysis from July 2019 to March 2021. The patients received additional PHPN if the composite pain score was suboptimal. The percentage of patients with dynamic composite pain scores on hip flexion to 80° and on gentle hip external and internal rotation on post-intervention day 5 was then evaluated.

Results Among the 70 patients who were reviewed in the study period, 20 patients who partially responded to anterior hip neurolysis received an addition of diagnostic posterior hip pericapsular block. Eighteen patients were the positive responders and PHPN was then performed. Among the PHPN recipients, a high percentage with satisfactory dynamic pain control was observed with 78% on hip flexion 80° and 83% on hip external/internal rotation on day 5 following the intervention. No procedural adverse event was noted.

Conclusions While most patients responded satisfactorily to anterior hip neurolysis, we concluded PHPN could be an effective adjunct to manage suboptimal pain control after anterior hip neurolysis in inoperable hip fracture.

Trial registration number NTWC/REC/21061.

  • pain management
  • acute pain
  • nerve block

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Footnotes

  • Twitter @WaldnerTony

  • Correction notice This article has been corrected since it published Online First. Min has been changed to minutes throughout.

  • Contributors Each named author has substantially contributed to conducting the underlying research and drafting this manuscript. Additionally, all of the authors have approved the content of this manuscript and have agreed to the submission policies of RAPM.

  • Funding PP received equipment support from SonoSite Fujifilm Canada.

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.