the Pericapsular Nerve Group (PENG) and Suprainguinal Fascia Iliaca Blocks (SIFIB) in Elderly Patients

Randomization and blindness Randomization was designed as 3 (n= 25) named Groups A, B, and C in a 1:1:1 ratio with a computer-based algorithm and sealed in opaque envelopes by the surgeon assigned to the study. The investigator anesthesiologist selected an envelope in order of numbers written on it and proceeded with PENG if it was Group A and SIFIB if it was Group B. There was no other intervention than intravenous analgesia if it was Group C. The orthopaedic surgeon responsible for the study was blinded to the study groups. This surgeon was the sole evaluator of postoperative pain scores and total analgesia consumption. All block procedures were performed by the primary investigator (B.C.) The duration of block performance and number of needle manipulations before local anaesthetic injections were recorded by the anaesthesia technician assisting the procedure.

Anaesthesia, interventions, and post-interventional follow-up Standardization All patients received standard spinal anaesthesia procedures with 10 mg of heavy Marcaine (2 mL of bupivacaine 0.5%) and 20 µg of fentanyl (0.5 ml) at L3-4 intervertebral space with the aid of midazolam 0.02 mg /kg and ketamine 0.3 mg/kg to-analgesia to achieve sitting position. According to randomization, patients in the study groups (Group PENG and SIFIB) received block procedures with the same local anaesthetic mixture as 30 mL 0.375% bupivacaine postoperatively in the recovery room under monitorization. The same analgesia plan was ordered for all participants as paracetamol 1 gr (four times daily), tenoxicam 20 mg (daily) and dexamethasone 8 mg once postoperatively. They received rescue analgesia only if they had persistent pain scores higher than 4 of 10 or asked for analgesia, as 1mg/kg tramadol (maximum daily dose, 4x1).

Interventions; block procedures PENG block was performed by the primary investigator (B.C) following proper skin disinfection with the patient in the supine position. Under the guidance of a low-frequency curvilinear ultrasound probe, the iliopubic eminence and the psoas tendon were identified, and local anaesthetic was injected between the periosteum and psoas tendon following negative aspiration.

For SIFIB, the high-frequency linear probe was placed medial to the anterosuperior iliac spine in a parasagittal orientation to visualize the bow tie appearance formed by the sartorius internal oblique and iliacus muscle. The needle tip was placed under fascia iliaca through an in-plane approach, and local anaesthetic was injected from the caudad to the cephalic direction.

Outcome Measures Primary outcome The primary outcome of this study is the pain scores. They were assessed by the same orthopaedic surgeon using the NRS (which ranges from 0 to 10, where zero represents the absence of pain, and 10 signifies the worst imaginable pain) at postoperative intervals of 0,4, 8, 12, and 24 hours.

Secondary outcomes The blinded orthopaedic surgeon recorded the number of times rescue analgesia was applied within 24 hours postoperatively as analgesic consumption. Also, block performances were compared by the duration of interventions and the presence of motor block as hip adduction at the postoperative 6th hour.

Sample size and statistical analysis The sample size was based on detecting a change of 2 units or more in mean pain scores (the primary outcome) using analysis of covariance on the outcomes at the follow-up time point. Using an estimated standard deviation of 2 units for pain scores (0-10) with standard type I and type II error rates, we calculated that 20 patients per group would be needed. To allow dropouts or exclusions, we enrolled 25 patients on each group to have a total sample size of 75 participants.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients over 65
• Patients scheduled for proximal femoral nailing
• Patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Status classification of I to IV.

Exclusion criteria

• refusal to participate
• a history of neurological deficits or neuropathy
• infection at the site of block application
• coagulopathy
• allergy to local anaesthetics
• patients with severe cardiopulmonary insufficiency or renal impairment
• mental illness.
• prolonged surgery due to orthopaedic complications of more than 3 hours, necessitating conversion of spinal anaesthesia to general anaesthesia.