Effectiveness of Ultrasound Guided Quadratus Lumborum Block versus Intravenous Analgesia for Postoperative Pain Management in Patients Undergoing Hip Surgeries

Abstract Background Orthopedic operations such as hip and femur fractures can lead to significant postoperative pain. In these patients, nonopioid analgesia techniques are especially important in aging populations when comorbidities are considered. Aim of the Work to compare the analgesic efficacy of ultrasound guided Quadratus Lumborum (QL) block versus intravenous analgesia for postoperative pain management in patients undergoing hip surgeries under spinal anesthesia. Patients and Methods This prospective interventional study was conducted at Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Management Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University Maternity Hospitals from January until August 2023. During this study, 40 patients scheduled for hip surgery under spinal anaesthesia were enrolled and divided into two equal groups; quadratus lumborum and control groups, with the same inclusion and exclusion criteria. Total amount of opioid analgesics needed by patients in both groups, pain scores according to the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), first time the patient needed postoperative rescue analgesia, vital data, postoperative length of hospital stay and side effects of drugs were recorded and compared between both groups. Results In our study, no differences were noted between groups regarding demographic data “age, sex, ASA and type of operation”. Regarding hemodynamics, our study revealed that at 10, 20, 40 min, PACU at 30 and 1hr, mean arterial pressures and heart rate were statistically significant higher among control cases compared with quadratus lumborum group. Regarding analgesic efficacy, our study revealed that VAS score was statistically significant higher after 4, 6 and 12hrs, need of 1st rescue analgesic was statistically significant faster 3.60 ± 1.06 vs. 18.00 ± 8.49 hours and total narcotics “mg” was statistically significant higher 60.00 ± 16.16 vs. 40.00 ± 13.69 among control cases compared with quadratus lumborum group. Also, our study revealed that hospital stay “days” was statistically significant longer 2.75 ± 0.44 vs. 1.75 ± 0.64 and side effect respiratory depression and vomiting were statistically significant higher among control cases compared with quadratus lumborum group. Conclusion QL block is effective for analgesia in patients after hip surgery compared with placebo or no block. QLB as a part of multimodal analgesia protocol reduces opioid consumption and pain scores in patients undergoing hip surgeries. The certainty of evidence based on GRADE was moderate.