The effect of post-operative ultrasound-guided transmuscular quadratus lumborum block on post-operative analgesia after hip arthroplasty in elderly patients: A randomised controlled double-blind study
SamehAbdelkhalik Ahmed, MohammadAli Abduallah, Mohamed Shebl Abdelghany
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM: The best analgesic technique after hip surgeries is a matter of debate. This clinical trial aimed to assess the effect of transmuscular ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum (QL) block on post-operative analgesic consumption after hip arthroplasty in elderly patients. METHODS: This prospective randomised double-blind study was carried out on 60 patients aged 60-80 years presented for total hip replacement under unilateral spinal anaesthesia. Patients were randomly allocated to one of two groups: A control group, receiving sham transmuscular QL block (QLB) (1 ml of normal saline), and a QL group, receiving real transmuscular QLB (30 ml of plain bupivacaine 0.25%). Post-operative morphine consumption (primary outcome), post-operative pain score (secondary outcome), time to the first request of rescue analgesia, patient's satisfaction and the occurrence of post-operative complications were measured. RESULTS: > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The use of transmuscular QLB in patients undergoing total hip replacement decreased post-operative analgesic consumption and post-operative pain score and prolonged post-operative analgesia. It did not affect patients' satisfaction and occurrence of post-operative complications.