COMPARISON OF SUPRAINGUINAL V/S INFRAINGUINAL APPROACH OF FASCIA ILIACA COMPARTMENT BLOCK FOR POSTOPERATIVE ANALGESIA IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING LOWER LIMB ORTHOPEDIC SURGERIES

Abstract

Background: Postoperative analgesia is crucial for recovery after lower limb orthopedic
surgeries. The fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB) is widely utilized for pain
management, with varying techniques impacting its efficacy. Objective: To compare the
efficacy and safety of the suprainguinal versus infrainguinal approaches of FICB in patients
undergoing lower limb orthopedic surgeries. Methods: This randomized controlled trial
included 200 patients divided equally between the suprainguinal and infrainguinal block
approaches. Efficacy was evaluated based on postoperative pain scores and opioid
consumption, while safety was assessed by the incidence of complications. Data were
analyzed using chi-square and t-tests, with significance set at p<0.05. Results: The
suprainguinal approach resulted in significantly lower pain scores (p=0.02) and reduced
opioid consumption (p=0.01) compared to the infrainguinal approach. The effectiveness rates
were 78.64% for the suprainguinal and 77.66% for the infrainguinal group. Both approaches
demonstrated a high safety profile with no significant difference in complication rates
(p>0.05). Conclusion: The suprainguinal approach to FICB provides better postoperative
analgesia with less opioid requirement than the infrainguinal approach in patients undergoing lower limb orthopedic surgeries. Future studies should focus on long-term outcomes and cost-effectiveness to validate these findings further.