European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background: Femur fracture is a common orthopaedic injury that causes a lot of pain and distress to the patients as the periosteum is more sensitive to pain. Proper positioning while giving neuraxial block is important but pain due to overriding of fractured bone ends makes it difficult. Over the years various techniques, drugs and blocks have been studied to reduce this discomfort and make patients more comfortable during positioning. Our study compares efficacy of Fascia Iliaca Compartment Block & intravenous Ketorolac during positioning for subarachnoid block in femur fracture patients.
Method: Prospective double blinded randomized control trial, n=60 patients; computer-based allocation into Group FICB (n=30)- Fascia Iliaca Compartment Block, landmark technique with 20 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine; Group KETO (n=30)- 0.5 mg/kg Inj Ketorolac (max 30mg) in 100 ml normal saline; 15 minutes prior to subarachnoid block; aged between 18-65 years, ASA class I and II, for elective femur fracture surgeries. VAS was studied till positioning for subarachnoid block and patient positioning, patient satisfaction & time to give subarachnoid block were also noted. The comparison was studied using the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact
test as appropriate, with the P value reported at the 80% confidence interval. P<0.05 was
considered statistically significant.