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Novel use of continuous pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block technique for traumatic superior and inferior pubic rami fractures: a case report
  1. Aneurin Moorthy,
  2. Stephen Choi,
  3. Ben Safa,
  4. Paul G McHardy and
  5. Ahtsham U Niazi
  1. Department of Anesthesia, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  1. Correspondence to Dr Aneurin Moorthy, Department of Anesthesia, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada; aneurin.moorthy{at}gmail.com

Abstract

Background Pubic rami fractures are painful injuries more commonly seen in the elderly with osteoporosis after high velocity trauma. In the most cases, management is conservative and non-operative with the goal to provide optimal pain relief to facilitate early mobilization and hospital discharge. Unfortunately, opioids remain the mainstay analgesic option and regional anesthesia techniques are limited but may include lumbar epidural anesthesia.

Case presentation A female patient in her 80s presented to the emergency department of a level 1 trauma center following a high-speed motor vehicle collision. The patient suffered multiple non-life-threatening injuries. Notably, the patient was experiencing severe right groin and leg pain secondary to superior and inferior pubic rami fractures. Due to the severity of this pain, the patient was unable to mobilize or participate with physiotherapy. A lumbar epidural anesthesia technique was not deemed suitable and instead, we inserted a continuous pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block with a programmed intermittent bolus regimen. Immediate relief of pain was achieved and 48 hours later, the patient still reported satisfactory pain control and started to independently mobilize.

Conclusion Analgesia options are limited in pubic rami fractures. We present the first published case of a novel use of the PENG block with a continuous catheter technique for the analgesic management of a traumatic superior and inferior pubic rami fracture. The clinical utility of this technique in pubic ramus fractures warrants further clinical investigation.

  • Acute Pain
  • REGIONAL ANESTHESIA
  • Pain Management
  • Nerve Block

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Footnotes

  • Twitter @anomoorthy

  • Contributors AM: manuscript conceptualization, writing and follow-up of the patient. AM and AUN: conduct of regional block procedure. SC, BS, and AUN: image acquisition and manuscript writing. PGM: manuscript writing, editing and critical review. All authors approved final version manuscript for publication.

  • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

  • Competing interests None declared.

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

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